Ex-IGP loses bid to appeal Hannah’s defamation lawsuit
The Malaysian Federal Court has dismissed an appeal by former police chief Musa Hassan, upholding a defamation ruling in favor of minister Hannah Yeoh. Hassan was ordered to pay RM250,000 in damages for falsely claiming Yeoh intended to turn Malaysia into a Christian nation.
Why it matters
The case underscores legal boundaries regarding public speech and the accountability of high-ranking officials in Malaysia's political landscape.
Musa Hassan told a forum in 2020 that an unnamed group linked to DAP was trying to destroy Islam in the country, and claimed that Hannah Yeoh had written a book to 'make this country a Christian country'.
PUTRAJAYA: The Federal Court has dismissed former inspector-general of police Musa Hassan's application for leave to appeal a ruling that found him liable for defaming federal territories minister Hannah Yeoh.
A three-member panel comprising Justices Rhodzariah Bujang, Che Ruzima Ghazali and Azmi Ariffin held that the nine proposed questions of law raised by Musa lacked novel points warranting the court's determination.
The questions concerned a public officer's capacity to sue and the dissemination of speech.
The apex court's ruling means that Musa must now settle a judgment sum of RM250,000 to Yeoh, in addition to RM50,000 in costs ordered by the court.
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