Vice admiral Datuk Sabri Zali files a defamation lawsuit against activist Badrul Hisham Shaharin over social media posts alleging corruption and abuse of power.
KUALA LUMPUR: A senior Malaysian Armed Forces officer has filed a defamation lawsuit against political activist Badrul Hisham Shaharin, known as Chegubard.
Vice admiral Datuk Sabri Zali filed the suit at the High Court in Kuala Lumpur after the defendant failed to respond to a letter of demand to retract allegedly defamatory statements.
Sabri’s lawyer, Muhamad Firdaus Jumaludin, stated the accusations are baseless and misleading. “Vice admiral Datuk Sabri has never been charged, convicted, or found guilty of any corruption, abuse of power, or misconduct as alleged by the defendant,” he told reporters at the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex.
The statement of claim alleges Chegubard repeatedly published material on social media from July 2024 to December 2025 accusing Sabri of corruption and a lack of integrity.
It asserts these publications portrayed Sabri as unfit for high office in the Armed Forces.
Sabri, who is also president of the National Defence Education Centre, states all accusations are false and made without any official confirmation from authorities like the MACC.
He claims the defendant acknowledged the allegations were based on documents from an unknown source without proper verification.
Sabri further claims the defendant openly admitted an intent to sabotage his appointment as Navy Chief.
He argues this proves the publications were made with malice and not in the public interest.
Consequently, he is seeking a court declaration that the statements are defamatory.
He also seeks an injunction to prevent further publication and appropriate damages for injury to his reputation and professional standing.