KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 3): An activist who made defamatory statements against Federal Territories Minister Khalid Samad has apologised for defaming him in a Facebook posting accusing the politician of helping to organise a gay festival here.
Before allowing Gerakan Muslimah Malaysia leader Wan Asshima Kamaruddin to read her statement in open court, High Court judge Datuk Nik Hasmat Nik Mohamed reminded her to be cautious and prudent when posting statements on Facebook in the future.
"You must check your sources before making statements. It can cause unnecessary hardship and tarnish the reputation of the person you had defamed," the judge told her.
Khalid also acknowledged that the damage had been done due to the post, but he will accept her apology and not seek any damages.
Following that, Wan Asshima, 35, read her statement of apology where she admitted the factual mistakes in her post and video that was published in her Facebook on Aug 18, 2018.
"I remorsefully regret that the unproven and unsubstantiated allegations in the said video had caused hardship, disgrace and discomfort towards the Federal Territories Minister.
"As such I would like to unconditionally retract the words and allegations in the video claiming Khalid had approved and organised a huge gay festival in KL. I unreservedly apologise to YB Khalid Samad for the distress and embarrassment caused by the publication of the untrue words and allegations.
"I further apologise for having questioned, challenged and accused Khalid and his family to prove that they did not practise the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transsexual) lifestyle. I understand that my statements were false, slanderous, have serious negative implications and I wholeheartedly apologise to YB Khalid and his family," she said in her statement.
Admitting her fault, she said she had carelessly failed to verify the information and recklessly posted the video without giving proper thought to its obvious negative implications towards the minister.
"Hence I apologise for hurting YB Khalid's feelings, dignity and reputation. I am also very remorseful for tarnishing YB Khalid Samad's image in the eyes of the public. I solemnly swear that I will not spread any false information in general or specifically on him and/or his family in the future.
"Lastly I would like to take this opportunity to thank YB for his agreement to settle this suit out of court without seeking damages," she said.
The judge then recorded the settlement of the suit and removed all trial dates.
Khalid filed the suit in September last year, where the minister, who is also Parti Amanah Negara communications director, claimed that Wan Asshima had posted the video on her Facebook account, claiming the minister supported a gay festival last August.
She removed the posting but refused to apologise.
Khalid in his statement of claim alleged that she issued the alleged defamatory statement without verifying the facts.
"In her Facebook statement on Aug 18, she said I had violated the rights of Muslims when I called and approved the gay festival, and it implied that I am a person who acknowledged lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights in Malaysia.
"Her statement was done in bad faith, with the intention to cause the public, especially the Muslim community, to hate me," Khalid said in his statement of claim.
Today, Wan Asshima was represented by Wan Rohimi Wan Daud while Khalid was represented by lawyer Ahmad Affendi Mohd Nasir.