KOTA KINABALU: A businesswoman from Ranau has filed a civil suit against the government and Khairy Jamaluddin, alleging she was wrongfully penalised for being unvaccinated during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Naomi @ Neomi Francis filed the suit at the Sessions Court in Kota Kinabalu on Wednesday (June 11).
This is believed to be the first known civil suit in Sabah relating to Covid-19 enforcement, raising questions over administrative overreach and alleged infringement of personal rights.
The 59-year-old named the Ranau District Council, the Health Ministry and Khairy in his former capacity as health minister, a post he held from August 2021 to November 2022, as defendants in the suit.
Francis, who operates a stall at the Ranau Central Market, claims she suffered financial losses, reputational harm and psychological trauma after being issued a compound notice on Dec 20, 2021.
She said the compound notice was issued on grounds that she had continued to operate her business without receiving a Covid-19 vaccination.
In her statement of claim, Francis said she felt compelled to receive the vaccine simply to keep her business afloat.
“I was pressured to obtain vaccination solely for the purpose of continuing my business operations,” she said, adding that the ordeal caused her “significant mental exhaustion, emotional distress and trauma”.
The compound notice was later cancelled by the Health Ministry on Feb 17, 2023.
In an official letter, the ministry’s chief enforcement officer acknowledged a technical error in the enforcement action and returned the case to the Sabah State Health Department for review.
The Ranau District Council subsequently retracted the compound notice in a letter dated March 8, 2023.
However, Francis said the damage had already been done. Her stall remained closed from Sept 2021 until March 2023.
“During this time, I lost income, loyal customers, and the public’s trust in my business,” she said in the court filing.
She is now seeking specific damages for 18 months of lost earnings, along with general and exemplary damages, interest, and legal costs.
Francis is represented by Messrs Priskila Akwila Advocates.
The court has fixed the hearing for July 14, 2025.
Khairy is now a media personality and co-host of the Keluar Sekejap podcast.
