KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 25 — PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang does not have to settle the RM2 million in damages awarded to a PKR member for defamation, the party’s communications director Fahmi Fadzil said today.
“The Keadilan leadership is of the view that this suit should not continue,” he said in a statement here.
But Fahmi acknowledged that Mohd Shamsul Mat Amin, PKR’s former candidate for the Bukit Besi state seat, was still adamant in carrying out the defamation suit.
“Mohd Shamsul has insisted that he needs to clear his name and dignity following accusations which were made during the 13th general election.
“The Keadilan leadership will take necessary measures to allow this case to be resolved well for the good of all parties involved,” Fahmi added.
Last Sunday, PAS president Hadi was ordered to pay RM2 million in damages to Shamsul over the latter’s defamation lawsuit.
The PKR man won a judgment in default after Hadi failed to appear in the case.
Today, the New Straits Times reported Hadi’s lawyer Asmuni Awi as saying he will file an application by next week to set aside the RM2 million judgment.
Last April, Abdul Hadi had railed against several PKR candidates in a rally at Kampung Tebakang, Alor Limbat referring to them as drug dealers selling “pil kuda” (methamphetamines) and being communist worshippers.
In the May 5 polls last year, the Barisan Nasional candidate emerged victorious in the Bukit Besi contest with a 6,966-vote win, while Mohd Shamsul only picked up 52 votes against the PAS candidate’s haul of 4,408 votes.
