Jamal says sorry to settle defamation suit with Yeo

KUALA LUMPUR: Sungai Besar Umno division head Datuk Seri Jamal Md Yunos has apologised to former minister Yeo Bee Yin to settle a defamation suit in relation to Yayasan Warisan Anak Selangor (Yawas) funds.

Jamal, 50, read out his statement of apology at the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex compound yesterday.

The hearing of the suit had been scheduled for yesterday and tomorrow before High Court Judge Datuk Rozana Ali Yusoff, but both parties agreed to settle it through a consent judgment.

“I now acknowledge that YB Yeo Bee Yin is an honest and transparent person in managing Skim Mesra Usia Emas money. I would like to apologise to YB Yeo Bee Yin for my mistake. I’m sorry, YB Yeo Bee Yin,” said Jamal.

Based on the draft judgment, Jamal, as the defendant, represented by lawyer Mohammed Nasser Yusof, had to apologise to Yeo, as the plaintiff, in front of all journalists and photographers in the compound of the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex yesterday.

The defendant, his agents or workers are also barred from further uttering, writing, publishing or disseminating the said defamatory speech.

Jamal is also prohibited from uttering, writing, publishing or disseminating words that are said to be defamatory as in the amended statement of claims on June 16, 2017, or words that have the same effect on the plaintiff or statements that can be considered defamatory.

Yeo, who headed the energy, science, technology, environment and climate change portfolio in the Pakatan Harapan Cabinet, filed the suit on June 14, 2017 demanding damages of RM5 million from Jamal for his allegedly defamatory statement regarding the issue of misappropriation of Yawas funds.

Yeo, who is also Bakri MP, claimed that Jamal had issued the statement on March 21, 2017 and that it was published by several newspapers, news portals and on the defendant’s Facebook page.

She claimed that the statement gave the impression that she had misused public funds and was unethical and untrustworthy. – Bernama

LONDON: A single dose of Covid vaccine cuts the risk of hospital admission among older adults by as much as 80%, new official figures suggest.

Data released by the U.K. government shows those aged 70 and over who were given their first shot of the Oxford/AstraZeneca or Pfizer vaccine were less likely to become seriously ill.

Described by the government as “exciting”, the results are good news for the U.K. vaccine programme, which has prioritised giving as many vulnerable and older people a single shot of vaccine as possible.

It will also be of interest to other European countries, who have been slower to approve the

Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, particular for use in older people.

While a second shot of vaccine is required for full protection from both vaccines, the success of the rollout means that “Covid admissions to intensive care units among people over 80 in the U.K. have dropped to single figures in the last couple of weeks”, Health Secretary Matt

in

Hancock said.

Professor Anthony Harnden, deputy chair of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, said the “bold” decision to delay the second dose so more older people could be protected by a single dose more quickly had “undoubtedly” saved many lives.

He said: “These real world results from Public Health England demonstrate a very good effect from both vaccines after the first dose.

“The Covid vaccination strategy was designed to prevent as many deaths as quickly as possible.”

Hancock said the number of admissions to hospital was falling faster than that of the number of cases. – The Independent