Zuraida, Jamal settle defamation suit through mediation

KUALA LUMPUR: A defamation suit filed by Ampang MP Zuraida Kamaruddin against Sungai Besar UMNO division head Datuk Seri Jamal Md Yunos was today settled through mediation at the High Court here.
Zuraida filed the suit against Jamal, who also is the chairman of the Coalition of Non-Governmental Organisations Malaysia, for allegedly uttering defamatory words against her in an assault incident at a shopping centre in Ampang last year.
Judge S. Nantha Balan recorded the consent judgement after Jamal read a statement in the court to express his regrets with the words uttered in the incident.
"I uttered the words against the plantiff (Zuraida) in anger and I regretted it.
"I hereby wish to withdraw the words I said to Zuraida during that tense situation at the Ampang Point Mall," he said.
Jamal also pledged not to repeat the remarks made against the plaintiff during the incident on Nov 13 last year.
Earlier, Judge Nantha Balan thanked all parties involved for agreeing to settle the case through mediation without having to go through a full trial.
"Thanks for the tolerance displayed by both parties in settling the suit," said the judge.
In her suit filed on Nov 17 last year, Zuraida claimed the defamatory words uttered by Jamal against her were widely circulated via print and electronic media, as well as online news portals including Berita Harian, Utusan Malaysia, Malaysiakini, TV3's Buletin Utama and Astro Awani, hence affected her reputation as a public figure. — Bernama