Sekijang Umno MP Anuar Abdul Manap and an Umno division leader, Wan Zawawi Wan Zain, have today been ordered by the High Court in Kuala Lumpur to pay RM50,000 each to PAS-linked National Association of Children of Felda Settlers (Anak) chairperson Mazlan Aliman (photo above, right).
This came about after Justice John Louis O Hara today allowed Mazlan's appeal over a Magistrate Court's decision to reject his defamation claim against the two.
Lawyer Wan Rohimi Wan Daud for Mazlan told Malaysiakini that Justice O Hara ruled that Mazlan had not truly revealed the full details of the terms of the settlement as what was reported in Mazlan's Facebook posting was what had transpired in open court when the two apologised.
"Following this, the court today ordered Anuar and Wan Zawawi who were both previously Felda Youth council members to pay RM50,000 each to Mazlan.
"The court also ordered them to pay total cost of RM8,340 to Mazlan," Wan Rohimi said.
The two had allegedly defamed Mazlan claiming that he had taken the proceeds won by Felda Kemahang, Kelantan, settlers in a law suit.
But later they apologised and as part of the settlement, the two were supposed to pay an undisputed sum to Mazlan but had allegedly failed to do so.
This resulted in Mazlan bringing the matter to the Magistrate's Court which rejected his claim on the grounds that he had revealed the terms of the settlement in the posting.