Activists retract claims against Penang exco in defamation dispute
The dispute concerned a video shared by the activists that linked Penang executive councillor Zairil Khir Johari's family to the appointment of the project delivery partner for the Penang South Reclamation project. (X pic)
GEORGE TOWN : Penang executive councillor Zairil Khir Johari has withdrawn his defamation suit against activists Ravinder Singh and Khoo Salma Nasution after all parties reached a settlement.
The dispute concerned a video shared by the activists that linked Zairil's family to the appointment of the project delivery partner for the Penang South Reclamation (PSR) project.
Under the settlement, recorded before sessions court judge Sharmila Abdul Samad via e-review, Zairil, the state infrastructure committee chairman, agreed to drop the suit without costs and waived the right to refile it.
In return, Ravinder and Khoo removed the video from their social media platforms and agreed not to repost it.
The settlement included a joint statement from the activists, who expressed regret for any embarrassment or harm caused to Zairil or his family.
They acknowledged that the allegations in the video were unfounded.
'All parties believe that resolving the matter is in the best interest of everyone involved,' the statement read.
The video was part of a protest campaign against the PSR, a land reclamation project off the southern coast of Penang island, now known as Penang South Islands.
Zairil was represented by Zharif Nizamuddin. Ravinder was represented by Shamsher Singh Thind and Khoo by Theiva Lingam.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Free Malaysia Today
4 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Consumer body cuts ties with deregistered Ikhlas
Nadzim Johan, chief activist of PPIM, said the association did not want to work with illegal NGOs. PETALING JAYA : A consumer body has said it would no longer work with Ikhlas, a society for small-time entrepreneurs, after learning it had been deregistered three years ago. The Malaysian Muslim Consumers Association (PPIM) said it had no idea that Ikhlas had been deregistered when jointly presenting a memorandum to the home ministry recently, according to the Scoop website. 'We do not want the public to question our credibility for joining forces with an NGO that has been deregistered,' PPIM chief activist Nadzim Johan was quoted as saying. 'Nor do we want to work with illegal NGOs. There are other NGOs whom we could work with.' On Friday, the Registrar of Societies confirmed that Ikhlas was deregistered in November 2022 for failing to submit annual financial statements. The society, which had listed former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad as its patron, was led by Ridzuan Abdullah, who is also on the secretariat of Gabungan Ikhlas Malaysia, a group which issued statements in early January on the addendum linked to Najib Razak. Ridzuan recently claimed that the NGO did not receive any notice about its deregistration, and also stated that the Covid-19 pandemic made it difficult for Ikhlas to hold meetings and submit its financial statements. Two years ago, it was reported that Ridzuan had been charged with 12 counts of filing fraudulent claims totalling RM378,000 to the Social Security Organisation to obtain incentives from the Penjana Kerjaya 2.0 Programme.
Free Malaysia Today
7 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Man pleads not guilty to sexually assaulting 10-year-old boy
The unemployed man is charged with sexually assaulting a 10-year-old boy in an empty container near a bus station in Kota Bharu. (File pic) KOTA BHARU : An unemployed man pleaded not guilty in the sessions court here today to a charge of sexually assaulting a 10-year-old boy. Che Asmizan Che Jaafar, 34, is charged with committing the offence in an empty container near the Lembah Sireh bus station here at 8am on June 12. The charge is framed under Section 14 (d) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 which provides for a prison sentence not exceeding 20 years and whipping, if convicted. Deputy public prosecutor Kamarul Hasyime Rosli appeared for the prosecution while the accused was unrepresented. Judge Zulkifli Abdullah set July 21 for mention and appointment of a lawyer.
Free Malaysia Today
7 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
‘Sabahan No 1' not an empty slogan, says Salleh
Sabah BN treasurer Salleh Said Keruak said the state party moved in tandem with the federal unity government. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : 'Sabahan No 1' is not an empty slogan for Barisan Nasional as it represents the party's struggle to give priority to the interests of the people of Sabah, according to Sabah BN treasurer Salleh Said Keruak. Speaking to Umno members in Benoni, he said BN relied on hard work and perseverance, rather than populist sentiment or material inducements, with 'not just promises, but actual delivery'. Salleh, who is state assemblyman for Usukan, said: 'We don't come with money, but with spirit and hard work.' His remarks come a week after Sabah chief minister Hajiji Noor reiterated his stance that local parties should lead and dominate Sabah politics. While he acknowledged cooperation with national parties, Hajiji maintained that ultimate political control should remain in the hands of Sabahans themselves. Salleh, who has previously asserted that the struggle for the state's rights is not the domain of any one party but of all Sabahans, said Sabah BN moved in tandem with the federal unity coalition government, to ensure Sabah had a decisive voice in national affairs. Last week, Sabah BN chairman Bung Moktar Radin called for a straight contest between BN and the ruling coalition GRS at the next state elections. He said cooperation could be considered after the elections. GRS deputy secretary-general Armizan Mohd Ali said that Bung's proposal was reasonable and should be honoured as the only way to resolve the conflict between the two coalition parties.
