KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court here has fixed March 6 to decide on an application by Federal Territories Minister Khalid Abdul Samad (pic) to strike out the defence statement filed by Gerakan Muslimah Islam Malaysia (GMIM) president Wan Asshima Kamaruddin.
The defence statement relates to a suit filed by Khalid against Wan Asshima for recording, uploading and publishing a video containing words that allegedly defamed him.
Lawyer Muhammad Rafiqree Hamka, who represented Khalid, said the date was fixed by judge Justice Nik Hasmat Nik Mohamad in chambers.
Lawyer Wan Rohimi Wan Daud appeared for Wan Asshima.
Muhammad Rafiqree said Khalid filed the application last November on the grounds that the defence by the defendant was trivial, an inconvenience, and an abuse of the court process.
On Sept 13 last year, Khalid filed the suit at the High Court here through the legal firm of Messrs Mohamed Hanipa & Associates.
He named Wan Asshima as the sole defendant.
He claimed that Wan Asshima had, on Aug 18, 2018, purposely recorded, uploaded and published a video onto her Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/wanasshima containing defamatory words against him, with his name and position specifically mentioned.
In the statement of claim, Khalid stated that the alleged defamatory words were intended to mean that he, as the Federal Territories Minister, recognised and acknowledged the status of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community in Malaysia, and had uplifted and protected the rights of the community by approving the largest gay party in Kuala Lumpur in conjunction with the Merdeka month.
Khalid, who is also Shah Alam MP, claimed that the video also accused him, in his capacity as a minister, party leader and individual, of having violated the human rights of Muslims, Islamic laws and teachings, as well as insulted Islam and also the status of Muslim women by allowing the gay festival.
He said the action by the defendant in recording, uploading and publishing the video onto her Facebook page was intentional and made with malicious intent to make the public, especially Muslims, hate him.
He is seeking exemplary and aggravated damages from the defendant and also an apology by the defendant, to be published on her Facebook page and in the Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian newspapers.
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