KUALA LUMPUR: Former opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was awarded RM150,000 general damages by the High Court today in a defamation suit he brought against Khairy Jamaluddin nine years ago over "homosexual insinuation".
Judge Azizul Azmi Adnan in delivering his decision said the words in the defamatory statement uttered by the Youth and Sports minister however had no elements of malice.
He also ordered Khairy to pay RM60,000 in costs to Anwar.
Azizul however dismissed Anwar's claim for aggravated damages saying that Anwar had not managed to prove the element of malice.
Azizul said the degree of the allegation made by Khairy was serious and that the defamatory statement against Anwar was made in a speech at a public event and had been subsequently republished widely.
Lawyer Tan Sri Dr Muhammad Shafee Abdullah who acted for Khairy informed reporters after the proceedings that he has been instructed by his client to file a notice of appeal on Monday.
Anwar was represented by lawyer J. Leela.
Anwar, who used to be Permatang Pauh member of parliament (MP), filed the suit on March 7, 2008, claiming that Khairy had uttered defamatory
words about him during a ceramah at Lembah Pantai on Feb 20 the same year.
The words by Khairy, who is also Rembau MP, were published on several online portals like Malaysiakini, which carried an article titled "Anwar and Kin no Threat".
Anwar alleged the words implied he was involved in unnatural sexual activities that contravened Islam and that he was of immoral character.