GEORGE TOWN – A crowdfunding initiative has been set up to raise up to RM1.52 million for former Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P. Ramasamy after he was found liable for defamation by the Kuala Lumpur High Court.
Malaysian Tamilar Kural chairperson David Marshall posted on social media that the former DAP leader needs help to pay the damages awarded by the court Islamic evangelist Zakir Naik.
"We appeal to Malaysians to support and stand with Ramasamy who has long been the voice of the voiceless Malaysians," he wrote.
The money needs to be paid within thirty days, with 5% interest, starting from today.
Although, the defendant intends to appeal the decision and seek a stay order, the money must be prepared in order to avoid the interest being charged.
If there is any excess donation beyond RM1.52 million, it will be channelled to welfare and education purposes, he said.
The damages include RM1 million for general damages, RM100,000 for compensatory damages, RM100,000 for aggravated damages, and RM250,000 for exemplary damages.
The judge ordered Ramasamy to pay RM70,000 in costs to Zakir. At the end of today's proceedings, the judge also ordered Ramasamy to make a public apology to Zakir but Ramasamy’s counsel Razlan Hadri Zulkifli informed the court they would file an application to stay the need for the defendant to apologise to Zakir, pending their appeal to the Court of Appeal.
Zakir had filed two suits on this matter respectively in October and December 2019 on the allegation that Ramasamy had issued defamatory statements involving the independent preacher, besides linking Zakir to the LTTE issue. – The Vibes, November 2, 2023
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