KUALA LUMPUR: PAS wants to strike out a defamation suit filed by Datuk Seri Mujahid Yusof Rawa (pic) over allegations the Islamist party made that the former Parit Buntar MP supports the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.
PAS filed the application through Messrs Tengku Amalin & Faizi at the High Court here on Feb 15.
Lawyer Noorazmir Zakaria, who represented Mujahid, confirmed that the application had been filed.
According to Noorazmir, the High Court has fixed June 21 to hear the application before Justice Ahmad Shahrir Mohd Salleh.
If the application by PAS is allowed by the court, the lawsuit will not go to trial.
Mujahid, who is also Amanah vice-president, filed the writ of summons on Dec 15, 2022.
He claimed that on Oct 16, 2022, PAS had maliciously defamed and humiliated him in an article on Facebook titled "Mantan menteri agama PH sokong LGBT?" (Former Pakatan religious minister supports LGBT?)
He claimed that the article and his picture were used, implying that he allowed, supported and accepted the LGBT community.
Mujahid said the defamatory article was damaging to his reputation and credibility as a former minister in the Prime Minister's Department in charge of Muslim affairs and had also caused him to suffer emotional stress.
He is seeking an order for PAS to withdraw and delete the article, as well as general, aggravated and exemplary damages.
In their statement of defence, PAS claimed that the plaintiff's statement of claim was flawed and invalid because the plaintiff failed to name the offender who had control of and published the article in question.
"The defendant stresses that control or management of the Facebook account registered under the name ‘Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) Pusat’ is under the control of a third party, whereby the defendant does not have any control over the Facebook account," it said.
