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KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama): Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin sent a demand letter to Umno High Council Member Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi, demanding a public apology and RM 10,000 compensation for allegedly defaming him through a Facebook post last week.
In the demand letter dated Tuesday (February 16), issued by Muhyiddin’s law firm Rosli Dahlan Saravana Partnership, the prime minister, among others, demanded that Mohd Puad unequivocally delete his February 9 post related with quarantine issues from his Facebook page under the name “Dr. Puad Zarkashi”.
“We are instructed that the contested post contained clearly false, unwarranted, unsubstantiated and malicious statements against our client.
“These statements against our client are patently false, inconsistent, unfounded, malicious, and therefore categorically denied,” the letter says.
The letter signed by Muhyiddin’s attorneys indicated that the law firm was instructed to require Mohd Puad to offer an unequivocal public apology regarding the publication on terms to be dictated by the firm for it to be prominently and immediately published in its Facebook page.
It is also to require all news portals and social networks that have published the allegedly defamatory statements to post an apology, and to provide a written commitment not to repeat the publication of statements similar or identical or of a similar nature to the publication in any any way.
“We are instructed to require you to agree to pay compensation to our client in the amount of RM10 thousand.
“Please note that in the event you fail to comply with the above claims within seven days from the date of this letter, we have our client’s instructions to proceed with legal action against him.
“Please also note that your statements in the contested publication that are false, defamatory and malicious and that have damaged our client’s reputation constitute a crime of criminal defamation under Section 500 of the Penal Code, which in case of conviction, may be punished with imprisonment for a period that can be extended to two years or with a fine or both, “he said.
The letter said that each of the defamatory statements, by way of natural and ordinary meaning, is understood that, among others, Muhyiddin and his entourage refused to be quarantined for 10 days upon their return from their official trip to Jakarta and cabinet ministers, including the prime minister. , are subject to different rules than the public under Law 342 or the current motion control order without justification.
It is understood that the law firm delivered the letter to Mohd Puad by email and by hand today.
On February 9, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) in a statement flatly denied claims made by Mohd Puad that the three-day quarantine order had been issued for ministers returning from official trips abroad solely because the first Minister did not want to be quarantined after his official visit to Indonesia.
In the statement, the PMO said that Muhyiddin had been issued the house surveillance order and given the observation bracelet for him to use as soon as he arrived from Jakarta on February 5 and that he (Muhyiddin) was in quarantine at home.
“The slander launched by Datuk Mohd Puad Zarkashi is malicious and aims to tarnish the good name of the Prime Minister,” he said.
The PMO, in the statement, had said that legal action would be taken against Mohd Puad if he did not publicly apologize for the matter. – Bernama
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