Ex-PPBM division chief tarnished my reputation on Facebook page: Ab Rauf

KUALA LUMPUR: Umno executive secretary Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh told the High Court here today that his reputation as a politician was tarnished by the status pictures uploaded by Ridwan Abu Samah on the latter’s Facebook page, last year.
Ab Rauf, 56, said the former chief registrar of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia’s (PPBM) Masjid Tanah, uploaded the status and status images to his Facebook page under the name ‘Wan Motor’ and ‘Ppbm Masjid Tanah’ on Nov 11 and 12, last year, which contained alleged defamatory remarks against the former.
He said the published status and images also tarnished his reputation as Masjid Tanah Umno division chief and had become a topic of conversation among Umno members and residents in the area.
"It also had a negative impact on my leadership, as if I was not eligible to be a leader," he said when replying to a question from his attorney, Datuk Mohd Hafarizam Harun, on the first day of the hearing of his defamation suit against Ridwan.
Ab Rauf as the plaintiff said the status uploaded by Ridwan, who was also a member of PPBM, was incorrect and defamed him.
“Ridwan’s action in publishing the status and pictures without obtaining any verification from me insulted and humiliated me,” he said.
Questioned by Mohd Hafarizam on the status of the images displayed by Ridwan of a family resort in Malacca, Ab Rauf said the resort was owned by his brother Husin Yusof and was built on land inherited by his siblings from his late parents.
"The resort was built on a mutual understanding between us siblings and the cost of construction was from a pooled fund among us,” he said.
Ab Rauf said allegations that he was corrupt and ‘robbed’ money from Umno to build the resort was untrue because before holding a position in Umno, he was already a businessman.
“The money for the construction of the resort was derived from the business I run,” he said.
Ab Rauf said his family had given him permission to use the resort for any activities or programmes related to his political career.
Rauf had in his personal capacity, filed the suit on Jan 5 claiming that Ridwan had posted a status and pictures on his Facebook page last year.
In his statement of claim, Ab Rauf alleged that the defamatory words, among others, meant that the plaintiff was a dishonest person and had abused his position to mislead and to win people’s hearts, especially those residing in Masjid Tanah.
He is seeking general and exemplary damages and other relief deemed fit by the court and an injunction to prevent the defendant or his agents from re-publishing the defamatory words.
The hearing before Judicial Commissioner Datin Faizah Jamaludin l continues on Oct 24. — Bernama