KUALA LUMPUR: A High Court ruling on Monday (Oct 30) mandates blogger Papagomo, also known as Wan Muhammad Azri Wan Deris, to remove a video clip from his Facebook page. The video allegedly contains defamatory statements against Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar, the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs). Lawyer Datuk Akberdin Abdul Kadir, who represents Mohd Na’im as the plaintiff, stated that Judicial Commissioner Leong Wai Hong granted the minister’s ex parte application in an online proceeding.
The court order is intended to prevent Wan Muhammad Azri, the defendant, from publishing, broadcasting, sharing, re-publishing, or re-sharing a video clip dated Sept 18. This video clip contains the alleged defamatory statement as well as a six-minute 41-second clip taken from the TikTok account ‘@nurhafizulbadrulhisham’ on the defendant’s Facebook page. Furthermore, the defendant or his agents are prohibited from publishing, broadcasting, and sharing similar defamatory statements that have a similar impact. The order also requires the defendant to remove the video clip within 24 hours.
Both parties have also filed an application for an inter-parte injunction, which will be heard on Nov 7. The lawsuit was filed by Mohd Na’im on Oct 19, accusing Wan Muhammad Azri of publishing a post on his Facebook account under the name “Sir Azri” on Sept 18, 2023. Mohd Na’im alleges that the defamatory statement insinuates that he, as a minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs), neglected his duties to Islam and made sexual or lewd allegations, portraying him as a faith opportunist who did not respect the stability of the Muslim community in Malaysia. He claims that this has tarnished his reputation, dignity, and status in the eyes of the public. – Bernama
