Ismail, former Bersatu Wanita chief settle defamation suit

Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Anina Saadudin recorded a settlement today over the prime minister’s defamation suit against the former Bersatu women’s chief.

On March 5, Ismail, who was then a senior minister, sued Anina, 46, for allegedly defaming him on Facebook and accusing him of being incompetent in discharging his duties as senior minister for security and defence minister during the implementation of the movement control order (MCO).

Lawyer Ragunath Kesavan, who represented Ismail, said the parties had entered into a consent judgment based on the terms of the earlier injunction order.

“The consent judgment was entered this afternoon before High Court judge Mohd Firuz Jaffril. No order was made as to costs or damages,” the lawyer said, adding that today’s outcome amounted to a full and final settlement of the legal action.

On March 11, Ismail obtained an interim injunction order from the court to compel Anina to remove all defamatory statements about him from her Facebook page.

The court had previously set Oct 1 for the trial of the suit.

Ismail, 61, as the plaintiff, filed the suit in his personal capacity claiming that Anina had published 13 defamatory words against him, as well as uploaded a video on her Facebook page alleging, among others, that the minister was incompetent in carrying out his duties while implementing strict regulations to combat the spread of the Covid-19 through the MCO.

Ismail said his reputation had been tarnished due to the remarks, which he claimed were made with ill intention to hurt and tarnish his good reputation and image.

He had sought general, exemplary and additional damages, with interest, costs and other reliefs deemed fit by the court.