Wan Azizah, two others ordered to pay RM2m in damages to Felda

KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court today ordered PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (pix) and two others to pay RM2 million in damages to the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) and its subsidiary on the publication of defamatory articles, seven years ago.
Judge Datuk Su Geok Yiam ordered Wan Azizah, former Senator Dr Syed Husin Ali and article writer Rusnizam Mahat to pay RM2 million as general and aggravated damages after allowing the appeal of Felda and Felda Global Ventures Holdings Sdn Bhd (FGVH) as the appellants against the RM70,000 damages awarded by the High Court Deputy Registrar here on Feb 13.
Su in her oral judgement, said the court agreed with the argument of counsel Datuk Mohd Hafarizam Harun who represented Felda that the compensation of RM70,000 and RM10,000 in costs handed to the appellants were far too low and should be increased.
She also said the Deputy Registrar who issued the order on damages earlier failed to evaluate the article entitled Felda Bankrap and the other articles with pictures entitled Kontroversi and Bina Bangunan RM662 Juta Hanya Libatkan Tiga Individu had caused the appellants to suffer financial losses and the shares of Felda also depreciated.
She said the court held the view that if the amount damages was not set aside and replaced with the appropriate quantum, it would cause all parties to take lightly the defamation of the statutory body. — Bernama