July 23 hearing on suit over girl's short skirt

KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court here yesterday fixed for days, beginning July 23, to hear the suit filed by Malaysian Chess Federation assistant secretary Sophian A. Yusuf against Ampang Member of parliament Zuraida Kamarudin.

Sophian filed the suit in connection with Zuraida's alleged defamatory remarks over his action in forcing a 12-year-old girl to quit a chess tournament last year because she wore a short skirt.

Judicial Commissioner Rohani Ismail set the date in chambers in the presence of lawyers Mohd Haris Abdullah, who represented Sophian, and Shahid Adli Kamarudin, for Zuraida.

Shahid, when met by reporters, said the court also set April 13 for case management.

Sophian, 44, filed the suit on Nov 20 last year, over Zuraida's remarks on his action in asking the girl to quit a chess tournament held in Putrajaya between April 14 and 16 last year.

In the statement of claims, Sophian, who was the tournament director for the National Scholastic Chess Championship, stated that the remarks by Zuraida was published in the newspapers and several portals, including MalaysiaKini and Sin Chew Daily, that it was intended to embarrass him, as well as to tarnish his reputation and integrity in local and international chess tournaments.

He claimed that the remarks by Zuraida meant that he was a paedophilia and became aroused when looking at girls in short skirt and the tendency of him committing sex abuse.

He is seeking a court order for Zuraida to retract her statement and an injunction to prevent her or her agents from republishing the said words, as well as an apology from the parliamentary member.

Sophian is also seeking general, special exemplary and aggravated damages, as well as interests, cost and other relief deemed fit by the court.

Zuraida, in her defence statement filed last Jan 18, said her statement was fair comment and with no malicious intent.