Kuala lumpur: The defamation suit filed by former Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin against Datuk Seri Jamal Md Yunos was resolved today after the Sungai Besar UMNO Division chief issued a public apology before the High Court here.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Khairy initiated the suit on May 24, 2023, arising from a media statement allegedly containing defamatory remarks made during the 2022 UMNO General Assembly on January 14 of that year. Reading the draft consent judgment, Jamal admitted that his allegations against the former Rembau member of parliament were false, unfounded, and lacking in sufficient evidence.

Jamal expressed his regret, stating, "I sincerely regret the publication and dissemination of the said statements, which have caused distress, public contempt, and injury to Khairy's reputation, character, and credibility. Accordingly, I hereby retract fully all defamatory statements I issued against Khairy during the media conference and in the said publication."

Jamal acknowledged that he had falsely alleged Khairy of hiring or paying delegates to "boo," and also implied the former Rembau MP was corrupt and lacked integrity. He admitted, "I acknowledge that my statements during the media conference and in the said publication bore the meaning or imputation that Khairy is a person lacking integrity, is unfit as a leader, and was involved in corrupt practices, all of which are wholly false and without foundation."

Consequently, Jamal agreed to remove the video recording of the said media conference and any form of publication from his Facebook and TikTok accounts and to ensure that such publications are no longer accessible to the public. He also undertook not to repeat or republish any similar or equivalent statements against Khairy in the future.

Judge Datuk Anand Ponnudurai recorded a consent judgment in terms of the settlement set out in the draft judgment. Khairy's counsel, Harshaan Muhammad Zamani, informed the court that both parties had agreed to settle the matter based on the terms of the resolution reached. This settlement was confirmed by lawyers Mohammed Nasser Yusof and Mohamad Fauzi Abdul Samad, acting for Jamal.

At the proceedings, Harshaan was assisted by counsel Shakeel Mohd Saifuzzaman, Muhamad Nur Aizat Noor Azam, and Sheetal Kaur Arwinder Singh. According to the statement of claim, Khairy alleged that Jamal had convened a media conference at the Kuala Lumpur World Trade Centre attended by media practitioners, UMNO delegates, and several party members and leaders during the 2022 UMNO General Assembly on January 14, 2023. Khairy claimed that the defamatory statements bore the imputation that he was a leader devoid of integrity, unfit for leadership, and disloyal to UMNO and its party leadership.