Zakir Naik reaches out of court settlement with Kula in defamation suit

KUALA LUMPUR – Controversial Indian national and Muslim preacher Zakir Naik has settled his defamation suit against former human resources minister M. Kula Segaran without having to go to trial at the high court.

Free Malaysia Today reported that a consent judgement was recorded before judicial commissioner Arief Emran Arifin in chambers.

“The settlement terms are to remain confidential between the parties,” Akberdin Abdul Kader, who is Zakir’s lawyer, reportedly told the online portal.

At the same time, Kula’s lawyer K. Shanmuga confirmed the settlement.

The suit against the DAP lawmaker was filed after a press statement issued by the Ipoh Barat MP and a FMT news report quoting him criticised and condemned the foreign preacher.

Zakir then demanded compensation and damages from the politician. He also requested a court injunction prohibiting the opposition member from publishing and distributing four defamatory news articles in any medium as well as demanded for a published apology across multiple media.

However, Kula cited justification, fair comment and qualified privilege as part of his defence. – The Vibes, July 4, 2022