KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court today rejected an application by Sungai Besar Umno division chief Datuk Seri Jamal Md Yunos for a stay on the court order for him to pay RM300,000 to former primary industries minister Teresa Kok.
Kok's counsel, Datuk S.N. Nair, said Judicial Commissioner Datuk Mohd Arief Emran Arifin rejected Jamal's application, and ordered that he pay RM3,000 in costs.
"The court, in rejecting the defendant's application, said it did not find merit in the request for the stay," he told reporters.
Jamal's counsel, Rejinder Singh, confirmed the matter and said they will be appealing the decision.
On July 26 last year, Kok was awarded RM300,000 after successfully suing Jamal for slander in 2017.
Jamal had claimed that Kok had abused funds belonging to Yayasan Warisan Anak Selangor (Yawas).
In that decision, Arief had also instructed Jamal to pay RM50,000 in costs.
Kok, who is Seputeh member of parliament, had filed the suit on April 6, 2017, claiming that Jamal had slandered her in a press conference on March 8 the same year.
In her statement of claim, Kok said Jamal's statement was carried on print and electronic media as well as his Facebook page.
She said the claims gave the impression that she had abused state funds for personal use, and that she was unethical.
Kok had asked for RM1 million in damages, as well as an injunction to prevent Jamal or any of his agents from republishing the claims. - BERNAMA