Ex-senator ordered to pay Salim Fateh Din RM275,000 over defamation
The High Court found Daljit Singh liable for defaming the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission chairman.
Judge Roz Mawar Rozain has ordered former senator Daljit Singh to pay RM100,000 in damages and RM75,000 in costs to Salim Fateh Din after finding him liable for defamation.
She also issued an injunction on July 30 restraining Daljit from repeating the defamatory statements against Salim.
Salim sued Daljit in June 2023, claiming that Daljit had uttered and published the defamatory words "Salim menipu saya" (Salim cheated me) to lawyer Selva Kumar Mookiah in Bahasa Melayu in 2021. He said Daljit then sent a text message about him to Selva the following day.
In April 2023, Salim claimed Daljit uttered and published another defamatory statement, which was sent to the then managing editor of a news portal.
Salim, who is also chairman of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, said Daljit's statements meant he was untrustworthy, a cheat and a liar, and that he was involved in illegal and immoral activities. He said Daljit had tarnished his reputation and good name.
In his counterclaim, which was reinstated by the Court of Appeal in 2024, Daljit contended that the statements were taken out of context. However, Roz Mawar dismissed the counterclaim after finding that the defences of justification and qualified privilege were not proven.
In a separate suit also heard before Roz Mawar, Daljit, as secretary-general treasurer of Parti Progresif Rakyat, was ordered to settle an outstanding loan of RM100,000 owed to Salim.
Dhinesh Bhaskaran appeared for Salim, while Daljit was represented by Harjinder Singh.
This article was produced with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI), in accordance with our editorial policy.