KUALA LUMPUR – The defamation suit brought by Datuk Seri Mujahid Yusof Rawa against Harakah, with regard to cosmetics entrepreneur Muhammad Sajjad Kamaruz Zaman, or better known as Nur Sajat, who dressed in female prayer garb while performing the umrah, will go to trial in July.
Lawyer Noorazmir Zakaria, representing the former minister, told Bernama that high court judicial commissioner Quay Chew Soon set July 12 and 13 for the trial during proceedings conducted via e-Review today.
Mujahid filed the suit on August 12 last year, naming Harakah reporter Aziz Muda and editor-in-chief Wan Nordin Wan Yaacob, as well as harakahdaily.net operator Galeri Media Serbanika Sdn Bhd and the newspaper’s printer, Percetakan Turbo (M) Sdn Bhd, as defendants.
In his statement of claim, Mujahid said on February 7 last year, Aziz, Wan Nordin and Galeri Media wrote and published defamatory words against him on the PAS mouthpiece’s portal, in an article titled “Sajat: Mujahid dan K’jaan PH patut dipersalahkan”, as well as an article titled “Keterlanjuran Sajat kesilapan Mujahid dan Kerajaan PH”, published in its newspaper, dated February 10 to 13.
The Parit Buntar MP said the allegedly defamatory words implied that he was irresponsible for allowing the public, especially Muslims, to engage in lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender activities, and that he was the main reason for Nur Sajat behaving like a woman and wearing female prayer garb while on umrah.
He said these words had tarnished his dignity, credibility and reputation as minister in charge of religious affairs.
In their statement of defence filed on September 28 last year, the defendants said Mujahid should be “man enough” to own up to the statements he has made, and not be offended by criticism directed at him, especially from the media, in relation to the issue. – Bernama, January 22, 2021
