‘Justice has prevailed’: Teresa Kok wins RM250,000 defamation suit against Dr Akmal over halal certification row

Teresa Kok won RM250,000 in damages in her defamation suit against UMNO Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh over derogatory remarks.

The High Court ordered Dr Akmal to pay RM50,000 in legal costs, remove defamatory statements from social media within seven days, and not repeat them.

Kok stated the lawsuit was to defend her dignity and uphold the rule of law, not for financial gain or silencing opponents.

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 19 — Seputeh MP Teresa Kok has won RM250,000 in damages in her defamation suit against Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh over remarks he made during a dispute on halal certification.

Free Malaysia Today (FMT) reported that the High Court in Melaka also ordered Dr Akmal to pay RM50,000 in legal costs, remove the defamatory statements from his social media accounts within seven days and refrain from repeating them or making similar remarks about Kok.

In a statement posted on Facebook, Kok said she hoped the judgment would serve as a reminder that democratic freedoms must be exercised responsibly.

“I hope this judgment serves as a reminder that democratic freedoms must be exercised responsibly. I remain steadfast in my commitment to serving the people and defending democratic values,” she said.

“The law has spoken, and justice has prevailed,” she added.

Kok said the lawsuit was not about financial gain or silencing political opponents, but about defending her dignity and upholding the rule of law.

The dispute began in September 2024 after Kok questioned a proposal to make halal certification compulsory for restaurants and food businesses that did not serve pork or alcohol, warning that the requirement could burden operators, particularly smaller businesses.

Dr Akmal responded by calling Kok an “old nyonya” and suggesting that a “non-halal” label be placed on her forehead.

Kok said political differences should be addressed through facts and reasoned debate rather than personal vilification, adding that no one should be above the law regardless of political prominence.

FMT quoted Dr Akmal’s lawyer Syahrul Syazwan Salehin as saying he would advise his client and obtain instructions before deciding whether to take further action.

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郭素沁 (Teresa Kok) 在针对巫统青年团团长拿督穆罕默德·阿克马尔·萨利赫 (Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh) 的诽谤诉讼中胜诉，获赔 25 万令吉，原因是后者发表了贬损性言论。

高等法院责令阿克马尔医生支付 5 万令吉的诉讼费，在七天内从社交媒体上删除诽谤性言论，并且不得再次发表此类言论。

郭素沁表示，提起诉讼是为了捍卫她的尊严和维护法治，而不是为了获取经济利益或压制反对者。

吉隆坡，10 月 19 日讯——士布爹国会议员郭素沁在针对巫统青年团团长拿督穆罕默德·阿克马尔·萨利赫的诽谤诉讼中胜诉，获赔 25 万令吉。该诉讼源于萨利赫在清真认证争议中发表的言论。

《今日自由马来西亚》（FMT）报道称，马六甲高等法院还命令阿克马尔医生支付 5 万令吉的诉讼费，在七天内从其社交媒体账户中删除诽谤性言论，并不得重复这些言论或对郭素沁发表类似评论。

郭素沁在脸书上发表声明称，她希望这一判决能够提醒人们，必须负责任地行使民主自由。

“我希望这一判决能够提醒人们，民主自由必须负责任地行使。我将始终坚定不移地致力于为人民服务，捍卫民主价值观。”她说道。

她补充说：“法律已经做出裁决，正义已经伸张。”

郭素沁表示，提起诉讼不是为了获取经济利益或压制政治对手，而是为了捍卫她的尊严和维护法治。

这场争议始于 2024 年 9 月，当时郭素沁质疑一项提案，该提案要求不供应猪肉或酒精的餐馆和食品企业必须获得清真认证，并警告说，这项要求可能会给经营者带来负担，尤其是小型企业。

阿克马尔医生回应称郭女士是“老娘惹”，并建议在她额头上贴上“非清真”标签。

郭素沁表示，政治分歧应该通过事实和理性辩论来解决，而不是人身攻击，并补充说，无论政治地位如何，任何人都不能凌驾于法律之上。

FMT援引阿克马尔医生的律师沙鲁尔·沙兹万·萨利欣的话说，他会在决定是否采取进一步行动之前，向他的客户提供建议并获得指示。

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