Dzulkefly Says Defamation Suit Against Najib Aimed at Protecting Reputation, Not Political Damage
KUALA LUMPUR, April 9 — Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad told the High Court that his RM5 million defamation suit against former prime minister Najib Razak was not intended to undermine the latter’s political career, but rather to safeguard his personal reputation.
The statement was made during cross-examination by Najib’s counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah in proceedings related to a Facebook post published in August 2020.
Dzulkefly explained that the legal action was prompted by claims that directly implicated him and his daughter, which he said had damaged their standing in the public eye.
The post in question allegedly accused him of practising nepotism in relation to the appointment of his daughter, Nurul Iman, to the board of Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM).
He argued that the statements went beyond legitimate political criticism and amounted to defamatory allegations affecting his integrity.
When asked whether the lawsuit was meant to politically “destroy” Najib, Dzulkefly firmly rejected the suggestion.
“No,” he replied during the court session.
In further questioning by his own lawyer Stanley Sebastian Sinnappen, he described such claims as unfounded and reiterated that the suit was intended to clear his name.
At the same time, Dzulkefly acknowledged that the Facebook post could be viewed as part of normal political discourse, but stressed that freedom of expression must be exercised responsibly.
“Criticism is a right, but it should not cross the line into baseless accusations,” he said.
Meanwhile, defence counsel Muhammad Farhan Muhammad Shafee argued that the post reflected common political concerns about appointments, cronyism and nepotism.
However, Dzulkefly countered that the timing of the post — made 19 months after the appointment — raised questions about the intent behind it.
Nurul Iman was appointed to the AIM board in October 2018, shortly after Dzulkefly assumed his ministerial role earlier that year.
Following Dzulkefly’s testimony, the court proceeded to hear evidence from Nurul Iman, with the trial before Judge Mahazan Mat Taib set to continue tomorrow.
The case highlights the tension between political expression and the legal boundaries of defamation in public discourse.
-wilayah.com.my
