The High Court has directed that the defamation lawsuit filed by former Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin against Sungai Besar UMNO Division Chief, Datuk Seri Jamal Yunos, be transferred to the Sessions Court. Judge Datuk Anand Ponnudurai issued the order on the grounds that the High Court typically presides over claims exceeding RM1 million. The court observed that it was unlikely for the plaintiff to be awarded damages reaching that specific threshold in this particular case.
Counsel V. Mugunthan, representing Jamal as the defendant, informed reporters following the proceedings that his client is prepared to offer a formal apology. However, he noted that the plaintiff is also seeking a specific amount in monetary damages. While the defense is open to a resolution, the shift to a lower court reflects a procedural adjustment based on the projected valuation of the legal claim and the nature of the settlement discussions.
On the other hand, Khairy’s lawyer, Sheetal Kaur, stated that the plaintiff’s side is willing to consider settlement offers proposed by the defendant, though no specific figures have been agreed upon as of yet. She highlighted that the case has garnered significant public interest due to Khairy’s standing as a former minister and prominent politician. She further noted that while the defendant has expressed a willingness to apologise, the financial compensation remains a point of contention in the ongoing legal battle.
The legal dispute originated on 24 May 2023, when Khairy, popularly known as KJ, filed the suit following remarks made during the 2022 UMNO General Assembly. The former UMNO Youth Chief alleged that Jamal held a press conference at the World Trade Centre (WTC) Kuala Lumpur on 14 January 2023, which was attended by media practitioners and party delegates. Khairy claimed that during this session, Jamal made defamatory statements that were later widely circulated on social media platforms.
According to the statement of claim, the defamatory content was uploaded to Facebook and TikTok under Jamal’s official accounts, featuring captions calling for disciplinary action against Khairy. The plaintiff argued that these statements implied he lacked integrity, was unfit for leadership, and was disloyal to the party. Although Jamal filed an application to strike out the suit in September 2023—labelling it an abuse of the court process—the case will now proceed to the Sessions Court for further deliberation on damages and the proposed apology.
