Jasin MP Zulkifli Ismail and Harakah newspaper apologise to Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek and withdraw defamatory 2023 statements.
KUALA LUMPUR: Jasin Member of Parliament Zulkifli Ismail and Harakah newspaper have issued a public apology to Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek over defamatory statements made in 2023.
Reading out an agreed judgment in the Sessions Court, Zulkifli acknowledged the statements had led to misinterpretation and public misunderstanding, damaging the minister’s reputation.
The defendants agreed to fully, unconditionally and unequivocally withdraw the statements, according to the MP.
Judge Hilmiah Yusof recorded the consent judgment and ordered the three defendants to pay RM15,000 in costs to the plaintiff.
Fadhlina had filed the defamation suit against Zulkifli, former Harakah editor-in-chief Mazlan Jusoh and publisher Galeri Media Serbanika Sdn Bhd over allegations linked to restrictions on takbir recitations and the Qunut Nazilah prayer during a Palestine Solidarity Week.
Through the consent judgment, Zulkifli clarified that schools were in fact allowed to recite takbir and perform the Qunut Nazilah prayer during the solidarity week.
The MP added that the defendants apologised to the minister and agreed to pay the RM15,000 in costs.
Zulkifli stated the defendants had undertaken not to repeat, republish, disseminate or comment on the statements, or any similar claims, in any form.
He said they would take all reasonable steps to ensure the statements are removed, deleted and no longer circulated by any parties under their control.
Zulkifli also expressed appreciation to the court and legal teams for their professionalism in handling the case.
He voiced hope that the settlement would be respected by all parties and not used in a way that could undermine unity and harmony in Malaysia.
Lawyer Mohamed Ibrahim Mohamad, representing Fadhlina, earlier informed the court that all parties had reached an amicable settlement and agreed to a consent judgment.
The settlement was confirmed by lawyers Yusfarizal Yusoff and Mohd Faizi Che Abu, who represented Zulkifli, while Muhammad Darwisy Roslan and Afifah Latiff represented Mazlan and the publisher.
Speaking to reporters after the proceedings, Fadhlina expressed relief that her name had been cleared of the defamatory allegations.
She stated she was prepared to proceed with the trial but felt that when there is space for settlement, the most important thing is to clear her name.
The minister said what she wanted to hear was an apology, and she received that.
Fadhlina confirmed she would fully channel the RM15,000 in costs towards the Palestine Solidarity campaign in Jasin.
She expressed satisfaction because the false allegations, particularly on the alleged ban of takbir and Qunut Nazilah, had a serious impact.
According to her statement of claim, the plaintiff alleged the defendants had claimed she had banned takbir and Qunut Nazilah in schools, portraying her as sinful and hypocritical in religious terms.
She further alleged the defamatory statements were made and published with malice, intended to damage her reputation as Education Minister.
