DAP lawmaker Teresa Kok has warned Sungai Besar Umno division chief Jamal Yunos to rein in his rhetoric or face fresh legal consequences, following his suggestion that she use court-ordered money owed to her to open a pig farm at her home.
“Let me state clearly: for a long time, I have exercised patience and restraint. I have chosen not to respond to every provocation or irresponsible statement because I do not believe Malaysians benefit from endless political attacks or attempts to manufacture controversy for personal attention.
“However, what is now deeply concerning is that these are not merely political comments or casual criticism.
“What is especially regrettable is the crude and morally irresponsible manner in which Jamal continues to speak, including his attempt to mock and trivialise a sum that has been ordered by the court,” she said in a statement today.
The Seputeh MP said turning compliance with a court decision into a vulgar insinuation was offensive and showed a troubling disregard for basic decency and respect for the judicial process.
“This is not legitimate criticism. It is deliberate provocation and character attack through degrading and irresponsible language.
“More importantly, there is already a High Court injunction in place. The continued repetition or republication of defamatory remarks in defiance of a court order is a serious matter. Court orders are not optional, and no individual is above the law,” she added.
Kok said she hoped Jamal would reflect and stop making defamatory remarks, warning that further breaches could result in legal action.
“If these defamatory statements continue, and if there is any further breach of the High Court injunction, then I will have no choice but to instruct my lawyers to take the necessary legal action, including contempt proceedings, to uphold the authority of the court and to protect my reputation and integrity.
“This is not a step I take lightly, but it may become unavoidable if such irresponsible conduct persists,” she said.
Yesterday, Jamal revealed he had raised RM66,000 to settle outstanding court costs from a defamation suit brought by Kok by auctioning his “protest towel” and a single slipper. After the private auction, he offered Kok unsolicited business advice, suggesting she use the money to start a pig farm, and said the successful bidder of the slipper would “gift it” to her.
Jamal maintained that the auction was an act of dignity rather than desperation, claiming Kok had overstepped by enforcing the court order when he believed a settlement arrangement was already in place.
On Jan 28, police officers were instructed to carry out a forced entry into Jamal’s home in Ampang to recover the outstanding judgment cost, which he said resulted in a broken gate. He questioned Kok’s decision to pursue forced entry, describing it as excessive for an outstanding sum of RM66,061.85.
In 2022, the Kuala Lumpur High Court ordered Jamal to pay RM300,000 in damages and RM50,000 in legal costs to Kok over statements made during a press conference concerning Yayasan Warisan Anak Selangor funds. Kok alleged that Jamal had implied she misappropriated state government funds for personal gain and portrayed her as unethical.
Jamal appealed against the decision, but the Court of Appeal dismissed his appeal in 2024 and ordered him to pay RM50,000 in costs. On March 29, 2023, another Court of Appeal panel allowed him to defer payment of the RM300,000 damages, ordering the sum to be deposited with Kok’s law firm pending his Federal Court appeal.
On July 30, 2024, the Federal Court rejected Jamal’s application for leave to appeal, ruling that it did not meet the threshold under Section 96 of the Courts of Judicature Act 1964.