PUTRAJAYA, May 5 — The Court of Appeal here today upheld a High Court order that the New Straits Times Press (M) Sdn Bhd (NSTP) pay RM350,000 in damages to PAS vice-president Datuk Husam Musa for defamation.
A three-member panel chaired by Justice Datuk Mohd Hishamudin Mohd Yunus unanimously dismissed NSTP’s appeal against the High Court decision to find the company liable for publishing defamatory statements about Husam and on the quantum of damages.
Mohd Hishamudin ruled that there were no merits in the appeal brought by NSTP on the liability and quantum of damages.
Presiding with him on the panel were justices Datuk David Wong Dak Wah and Datuk Umi Kalthum Abdul Majid.
Mohd Hishamudin also ordered NSTP to pay Husam a total sum of RM60,000 in legal costs.
The judge (Mohd Hishamudin) had awarded RM50,000 in costs to Husam for court proceedings at the High Court and Court of Appeal on liability, and another RM10,000 in costs for court proceedings in the Court of Appeal on the quantum of damages.
On January 31, 2008, Husam had filed a civil suit against Bukit Bunga assemblyman Mohd Adhan Kecik, Paloh assemblyman Datuk Nozula Mat Diah and NSTP for allegedly making defamatory statements about him in a press conference at the Kelantan State Assembly over the management of Syarikat Air Kelantan Sdn Bhd.
The alleged defamatory statements were published in the New Straits Times and Berita Harian dailies on Nov 28, 2007.
Husam claimed the statements had tarnished his reputation as politician and party leader.
He withdrew the suit against Mohd Adhan and Nozula on October 15, 2009 after they made a public apology in early June of the same year in a Malay daily.
On April 12, 2013, the High Court allowed Husam’s claim on liability against NSTP and had ordered assessment of damages. On February 17, last year, the High Court awarded Husam RM350,000 in damages.
Husam was represented by lawyer Md Yunos Shariff while NSTP was represented by Rishwant Singh. — Bernama
