New: Court Orders Akmal Saleh to Pay Teresa Kok RM300,000 Over Defamatory TikTok Video

UMNO Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh has been ordered to pay Seputeh MP Teresa Kok RM300,000 after the High Court in Melaka ruled in her favour in a defamation suit she filed in 2024.

Judge Datuk Isa Aziz Ibrahim on Monday (Oct 19) awarded RM250,000 in general damages and RM50,000 in costs. The court also ordered Akmal to take down the related post within seven days and barred him from repeating the statements.

Court Finds TikTok Statements Defamatory

Teresa’s lawyer, Datuk Sankara Nair, said the court found Akmal liable for the defamatory statements based on the evidence presented during the proceedings, and described the judgment as fair. Akmal was represented by lawyer Syahrul Syazwan Salehin.

Teresa said she was satisfied that the ruling had cleared her name, adding that it was a reminder for politicians to be careful when making public statements. She said she usually channels damages from such suits to charity, after taking her lawyers’ fees into account.

Teresa filed the suit on Oct 25, 2024, claiming that a TikTok video posted by Akmal on Sept 7, 2024, portrayed her as lacking knowledge of halal certification and as opposing government policy on Islamic practices. Akmal, who is also the Merlimau assemblyman, was named as the sole defendant.

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