KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 26 — A mother said she is ready to see popular preacher Datuk Mohammad Kazim Elias in court should he sue her for defamation for linking his tahfiz school in Ipoh to allegations that students were sexually abused.

In a statement made available to Malay Mail Online by an activist close to the family and later verified with her, the woman said today she will do whatever it takes to continue fighting for the rights of her son — a former student in the school and allegedly one of the victims.

"You wanna play in court? Bring it on,” the woman said.

On Monday, Malay Mail Online reported that Kazim demanded a mother apologise for the allegations or pay RM8 million in damages for the alleged libel, which the firm said had intended to "affect the reputation and also the client’s reputable track record”, including his religious reputation.

According to the letter of demand sighted by Malay Mail Online, Kazim claimed a Facebook post made by the woman referring to "a maahad up north and led by a famous ustaz” had hinted at him and his religious school even when the two were not explicitly named.

The woman was given seven days from the date of receipt to comply.

Speaking to Malay Mail Online over text message, the mother said she has yet to consider legal representation at the moment.

She also expressed anxiety whether the report she had lodged over the alleged sexual abuse will ever go to the prosecution, after almost three months had gone by with silence.

"I wish you well, God willing. Because my son and I, we have the Quran by our sides too,” she added.

Speaking at a preaching event amid the media storm in August, Kazim had said he was not afraid of the accusations, claiming his school, called Darul Barakah, and him have the Quran "by their side”.

The mother was said to have contacted former TV celebrity Wardina Safiyyah on August 1, 2016 on Facebook to establish allegations regarding Kazim and his school, which later went viral after it was also shared by social activist Syed Azmi Alhabshi.

Malay Mail Online has since discovered that Kazim had also sent letters of demand with different terms to the duo.

On August 27, Perak police confirmed it had wrapped up its investigation on Kazim’s school after taking statements from 10 individuals including students, the alleged victim, and the school.