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KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin sent a legal letter to Umno Supreme Council member Mohd Puad Zarkashi, demanding a public apology and compensation of Ringgit 10 million for allegedly defaming him through a Facebook post last week.
In the demand letter dated February 16, issued by the Muhyiddin Rosli Dahlan Saravana Partnership law firm, the prime minister, among others, demanded that Puad unequivocally remove a February 9 post on quarantine declarations. from his Facebook page under the name “Dr. Mohd Puad Zarkashi ”.
“We are instructed that the contested publication contained clearly false, unjustified, 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 stated that the law firm was instructed to require Puad to agree to provide an unequivocal public apology regarding the publication on the terms that the firm will dictate 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 supposedly defamatory statements to also publish the apology, and to commit in writing not to repeat the publication of statements similar or identical or of a similar nature to the publication in de anyway.
“We are instructed to require you to agree to pay compensation to our client in the amount of RM 10 million.
Please note that in the event that 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 you.
“Please also note that your statements in the contested publication that are false, defamatory and malicious that have damaged the reputation of our client constitute a crime of criminal defamation under Section 500 of the Penal Code, which in case of conviction can be punished with imprisonment for a period that can be extended to two years or with a fine or both, ”says the letter.
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 members, including Muhyiddin, are subject to different rules than the public under Law 342 or the current motion control order (MCO) without justification.
It is understood that the law firm delivered the letter to Puad via email and by hand today.
On February 9, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) in a statement flatly denied claims made by Puad that the three-day quarantine order had been issued for ministers returning from official trips abroad solely because the prime minister he did not want to be quarantined after returning. of 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 Puad Zarkashi is malicious and aims to tarnish the good name of the Prime Minister,” the statement said.
The PMO, in the statement, had said that legal action would be taken against Puad if he did not publicly apologize for the matter.
