PUTRAJAYA – Zakir Naik’s appeal against the high court’s decision that allowed former Batu Uban assemblyman S. Raveentharan to transfer a suit filed by the independent speaker against him for alleged defamation to the Penang High Court will be heard on August 13.
Lawyer Meor Hafiz Salehan, representing Zakir, said the date was set by Court of Appeal deputy registrar Radzilawatee Abdul Rahman during case management proceedings held virtually today.
On August 10 last year, Zakir had filed an appeal against the Kuala Lumpur High Court’s decision on July 23, which allowed Raveentharan’s application as the defendant named in the suit, as well as witnesses to be called to testify, as they are from Penang.
On December 12, 2019, Zakir filed a suit against Raveentharan claiming that the former rep had uploaded five defamatory statements on Facebook between October 13 and 17 the same year.
In the statement of claim, Zakir stated that the five statements were made with malice, hatred and envy without first confirming the matter with him.
He claimed that Raveentharan, through the posts, had depicted him as a malicious individual and a threat to the country’s security, peace and harmony.
Zakir claimed that the five statements were entirely baseless, untrue, fabricated and false.
He is seeking an order to compel the defendant to remove the defamatory statements from websites, social media and all related mediums, as well as general, aggravated, exemplary damages and compensation, as well as other relief deemed fit by the court. – Bernama, June 18, 2021
