PETALING JAYA: The lawsuit by preacher Dr Zakir Naik against former human resources minister M. Kula Segaran has been settled without a High Court trial, according to reports.
Naik's lawyer Akberdin Abdul Kader was quoted as saying that the settlement terms will remain confidential between the parties.
According to Free Malaysia Today on Monday (July 4), a consent judgment was recorded before judicial commissioner Arief Emran Arifin in chambers.
Kula’s lawyer K Shanmuga confirmed the matter.
The defamation suit brought by Naik against Kula was in relation to remarks made by the latter in a news report published on April 17, 2017, on Free Malaysia Today titled "DAP: No reason for Malaysia to protect Zakir Naik".
Naik also cited a press release by Kula on Aug 13, 2019 titled "Zakir Naik’s presence is embarrassing to all Malaysians".
Naik filed the suit on Nov 27, 2019, seeking compensation and damages from the Ipoh Barat Member of Parliament who was named as the sole defendant.
In 2019, Naik, an Indian citizen and Malaysian permanent resident, was barred from delivering public talks in every state in Malaysia by the police, in the interest of national security and to preserve racial harmony.
