Two days after announcing his intention to sue five DAP leaders for defamation, Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) lecturer Kamarul Zaman Yusoff has stated he will be suing three others.
The three DAP leaders are Perai assemblyperson P Ramasamy, Seri Delima assemblyperson Syerleena Abdul Rashid and DAP Batu Kitang chairperson Abdul Aziz Isa.
Malaysiakini understands the letter of demand had been forwarded to the trio earlier this morning.
This comes after Kamarul said on Tuesday he was initiating legal proceedings against Iskandar Puteri MP Lim Kit Siang, Seputeh MP Teresa Kok, Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng, Stampin MP Chong Chieng Jen and the party’s former vice-chairperson Ariffin Omar over social media and online articles dating back to 2017.
In his individual letters of demand to the three today, Kamarul, who earlier this month was banned from UUM from making political posts, cited them over various social media postings and online articles in May and June 2017, and June this year.
In the case of Ramasamy, Kamarul cited several Facebook postings by the Penang deputy chief minister II that led to the publication of a Malaysiakini report entitled “Ramasamy to sue UUM lecturer for defamation on June 23”.
The article was published just a few hours after Kamarul stated his intention to sue the earlier five DAP leaders.
On Syerleena, Kamarul cited a May 2017 article entitled “Kamarul, save yourself first and leave the rest of the nation alone”, purportedly by the Wanita DAP national committee member which appeared on the DAP website, and to comments she allegedly made in a news report in the same month.
Meanwhile, in the case of Abdul Aziz, who is also the special assistant to Pakatan Harapan Sarawak chairperson and Stampin MP Chong Chieng Jen, Kamarul cited a social media posting on June 7, 2017, with the heading “Takut dengan Kristian? – Apa dosa orang Kristian dengan Dr Kamarul dan Nasrudin di Malaysia?” (Scared of Christians? What are the sins of the Christians to Kamarul and [PAS information chief] Nasrudin in Malaysia?).
In an immediate response, Ramasamy said he had not received Kamarul’s letter of demand but added the latter was “welcomed to sue…it is his prerogative.”
“My lawyers are already preparing my letter of demand to him which will be sent soon. I look forward to meeting him in court,” the DAP man told Malaysiakini.
He had stated his legal “multi-million ringgit” action against the lecturer following a police report by Ramasamy’s assistant against Kamarul in August 2019 for purported defamation and causing racial and religious tension.
The legal notice on defamation was delayed due to the Covid-19 outbreak, he added.
Malaysiakini has contacted Syerleena and is awaiting a response while the portal is attempting to contact Abdul Aziz. – Malaysiakini
Earlier report: Jun 23, Controversial UUM Lecturer to Sue 5 DAP Leaders for Defamation Dating Back to 2017