Senator Syed Husin Ali sued over alleged defamation in book
(NST) – Kulim-Bandar Baru member of parliament Datuk Zulkifli Noordin has sued Senator Dr Syed Husin Ali over alleged defamation contained in the latter’s Malay language book entitled ‘Memoir Perjuangan Politik Syed Husin Ali’.
Zulkifli, who filed the suit through Messrs Kamarul Hisham and Hasnal Rezua on Friday, alleged in his statement of claim that the book implied that he had agreed to resign as Kulim Bandar Baru MP in order to allow Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to contest in a by-election.
He further alleged that the words in the book implied that he had asked Parti Keadilan Rakyat for RM60,000 to vacate the seat and that he had conspired with Umno to gain politically and financially by smearing PKR and Anwar.
Zulkifli added that the allegations were not true and had damaged his reputation.
He is claiming for general, exemplary and aggravated damages and an injunction to stop the defendant from re-producing the said words.
Zulkifli’s lawyer Hasnal Rezua told reporters yesterday that this suit emanated from the defamation suit filed by Syed Husin against Zulkifli and two others earlier this year.
In that suit, Syed Husin alleged that Utusan Melayu (Malaysia) Bhd and its editor in chief Datuk Abdul Aziz Izhak had, with malicious intent, published words defamatory to him in an article dated Nov 20, 2011 headlined, “Zul Noordin nafi dakwaan Syed Husin” (Zul Noordin denies allegation by Syed Husin).
Syed Husin had also claimed that Zulkifli had posted the same article in his personal website although under a different heading, “Anjing-anjing Pencen” (Retired Dogs).
Yesterday, Hasnal and Syed Husin’s lawyer N. Surendran, met High Court judge Vazeer Alam Mydin Meera in chambers for case management.
The suit by Syed Husin against Zulkifli, Utusan Malaysia and Abdul Aziz is fixed for trial on Thursday.
