KUALA LUMPUR, May 27 ― Tan Sri Joseph Kurup has filed to strike out the defamation suit brought by Pertubuhan Pribumi Perkasa Malaysia’s (Perkasa).
The suit, in relation to the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department's media statement on December 24, 2014, allegedly portrayed Perkasa as extremist. It mentioned that Perkasa used religion to cause fear and spark disunity among the people.
Senior Federal Counsel Nor Mastura Ayub told The Star that they filed an application to strike out the suit under Order 18 Rule 19 of the Rules of the High Court yesterday.
She also added that they filed the matter on the grounds that it was a frivolous abuse of the court process and had no locus standi. High Court judge, Justice Hue Siew Kheng, later fixed July 1 to hear the issue.
On March 11, Perkasa refiled its defamation claim against Kurup for allegedly implying that it is an extremist association which uses religion to cause violence among the people.
Perkasa also reaffirmed that Kurup had on Decemeber 24 last year made a slanderous and false statement to the media against it.
Perkasa is seeking an injunction to restrain Kurup from issuing, publishing or distributing any materials or statements which could defame the association.
Apart from that, Perkasa is also asking for general, aggravated and exemplary damages from Kurup.
