Ex-IGP, Ismail Sabri ordered to pay RM1m to Nurrul Izzah

KUALA LUMPUR: Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar was awarded RM1 million damages by the High Court in a defamation suit against former inspector-general of police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar and Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob over statements linked to her meeting self-styled Sulu princess Jacel Kiram three years ago.

Judicial commisioner Datuk Faizah Jamaludin said the statements by Khalid and Ismail Sabri in two press conferences had defamed the plaintiff (Nurul Izzah).

Faizah said an ordinary and reasonable person, upon hearing the statement, would understand that the plaintiff had met an enemy of the country who had killed members of the army and action could be taken under the Prevention of Terrorism Act and the Penal Code.

She ordered Khalid and Ismail Sabri to pay RM400,000 and RM600,000 respectively to Nurul Izzah.

The court ordered them to pay RM80,000 in costs.

“In my opinion, the statements conveyed the meaning that the plaintiff ’s meeting with Jacel was a meeting with a member of a group that had declared war against Malaysia and that the plaintiff had committed treason, meaning that she is a terrorist.”

Faizah said the statements had exposed the plaintiff to hatred, ridicule and contempt.

The court found that Khalid’s statement was made on occasion of privilege as evidence showed that the Sunathon 2015 programme was an official police function.

“The first defendant was the IGP and he had the duty and the reciprocal privilege to answer reporters at the press conference in relation to the photograph of the plaintiff and Jacel, which involves national security and public interest.”

Faizah said, however, the court did not find that Ismail Sabri’s statement was qualified privilege as the circumcision programme he attended was organised by Umno and was not an official government programme.