Court of Appeal Lowers Khairy Jamaluddin’s Defamation Compensation to RM830,000 in Vaccine Case
PUTRAJAYA — The Mahkamah Rayuan Malaysia has reduced the damages awarded to former Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin from RM2.5 million to RM830,000 in his defamation lawsuit involving statements related to Covid-19 vaccines.
The decision was delivered by a three-judge panel chaired by Justice Datuk Mohamed Zaini Mazlan, which upheld the High Court’s finding that the defendant was liable but revised the compensation amount to ensure fairness and proportionality.
The panel also included Justice Datuk Ahmad Fairuz Zainol Abidin and Justice Datuk Ahmad Shahrir Mohd Salleh.
The court reduced general damages from RM2 million to RM500,000 and exemplary damages from RM250,000 to RM80,000.
However, aggravated damages of RM250,000 were maintained, bringing the total award to RM830,000.
The defendant was also ordered to pay RM50,000 in legal costs.
Khairy filed the lawsuit in January 2022 against Mohd Rasyiq Mohd Alwi, also known as Ustaz Abu Syafiq, over alleged defamatory Instagram posts concerning Covid-19 vaccines.
The posts involved videos and images published in October 2021 and January 2022.
In its unanimous ruling, the court said the defamatory statements had harmed Khairy’s reputation and could potentially influence public confidence in vaccination efforts.
The judges emphasised that individuals holding religious influence carry a higher level of responsibility when making public statements.
They said publishing unverified allegations constitutes an abuse of public trust.
The court also stressed that damages in defamation cases are meant to compensate the injured party and not to create excessive financial gain.
It noted that the earlier RM2.5 million award was no longer consistent with current judicial trends.
In April last year, the High Court ordered the defendant to pay RM2.5 million before the decision was appealed.
The latest ruling confirms the defamation finding while adjusting the compensation to a more proportionate level.
-wilayah.com.my
