THE decision in former health minister Khairy Jamaluddin's RM2 million defamation suit against Islamic preacher Mohd Rasyiq Mohd Alwi, over alleged remarks concerning his vaccination status has been postponed.
The Kuala Lumpur High Court made the decision following the passing of Khairy's father-in-law, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, 85, at 7.10pm yesterday at the National Heart Institute.
According to reports, Judge Datuk Raja Ahmad Mohzanuddin Shah Raja Mohzan had been scheduled to deliver the verdict this morning.
Khairy's counsel, Abdul Rashid Ismail, said the court granted a postponement following his application last night.
"The court has now set the decision to be delivered on Friday," he told the New Straits Times.
Abdullah, who succeeded Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad as prime minister on Oct 31, 2003, served until April 2, 2009.
The sixth Umno president is survived by his wife, Tun Jeanne Abdullah, and his children, Kamaluddin and Nori.
Khairy initiated legal action in 2022, accusing Rasyiq — also known as Ustaz Abu Syafiq — of falsely alleging that he had misled the public regarding his vaccination status.
He argued that such accusations could have compromised the government's efforts during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Abdul Rashid told the court that Rasyiq had published defamatory remarks on social media, mocking Khairy, who had played a leading role in managing the country's National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme.
He said that Rasyiq had shown no remorse even after receiving legal correspondence, responding instead with a sarcastic apology. – April 15, 2025
