Court throws out Zahid's bid for interim injunction against Muhyiddin

The Kuala Lumpur High Court today dismissed Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s application for an interim injunction to prevent Muhyiddin Yassin from issuing statements on the allegation that he had sought the latter's help to solve or postpone the trial of his criminal cases.

Judge Rozana Ali Yusoff made the decision during online proceedings.

Zahid’s counsel, Shahrul Fazli Kamarulzaman, when contacted, said the judge dismissed the application on the grounds that the issues raised, such as whether Muhyiddin's statements were defamatory or not, must be decided at a trial.

"The case will now proceed to trial. The court fixed Oct 3 for next case management," he said.

The court also awarded Muhyiddin costs of RM5,000. This was confirmed by his lawyer, Rosli Dahlan.
 
In the suit filed on April 4, the Bagan Datuk MP sought an ex-parte injunction for Muhyiddin or his representatives to withdraw the statements or similar statements against him.

He also sought an interim injunction for the defendant to delete, edit and stop the publication of the part of the video footage containing the allegedly defamatory statements in online news portals and on social media, including Perikatan Nasional’s Facebook page, Astro Aawani’s YouTube channel and KiniTV.

In his statement of claim, Zahid, 69, said that on Feb 16, while on the campaign trail for the 15th Johor state election in Mersing, at the compound of the Learning Centre Sentuhan Kasih Felda Tenggaroh 3, Muhyiddin had made a defamatory statement with ill intent and malice against him.

He claimed that video footage of the statement was also published on Astro Awani’s YouTube channel that same day.

According to Zahid, the statement by Muhyiddin implied that he had used a shortcut to settle and postpone his ongoing court cases, and that he had asked for Muhyiddin’s help to intervene in the court cases and the judiciary system and to order the dissolution of the Johor state assembly. 
 
He said it also implied that he was not a respectable and exemplary leader.

Zahid claimed that the allegation was false and aimed at tarnishing his name and reputation.

He had sought general, aggravated and exemplary damages, as well as an order for Muhyiddin to publish a public apology in newspapers, and other reliefs and costs deemed fit by the court.