PUTRAJAYA: Veteran politician Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman was ordered to pay RM120,000 in costs to former minister Khalid Abdul Samad and online portal KiniTV Sdn Bhd in relation to the former's defamation suit against the latter.
A three-member Court of Appeal panel led by judge Datuk S. Nantha Balan made the ruling today.
Nantha Balan when reading the unanimous ruling said the amount was reasonable as it included the cost for the trial, leave application and today's proceedings.
On April 26, 2017, the former Pasir Salak member of parliament filed a defamation suit claiming that Khalid had allegedly uttered defamatory statements, as well as used curse words, against him at two media conferences near the Parliament lobby.
He claimed that Khalid's first statement was published in the New Straits Times Press (NSTP) publication the New Straits Times, with the title 'Fury over Deputy Minister's Remark' on Nov 22 and the second statement by KiniTV on Nov 24.
On Feb 22, Judge Datuk Seri Latifah Mohd Tahar, who was a judicial commissioner at that time, dismissed Tajuddin's suit by stating that the statements made by former Shah Alam MP were not defamatory and were made based on justification, reasonable comments, and conditional protection.
"Khalid's comments followed the outrageous behaviour of the plaintiff (Tajuddin) during the Parliament sitting, by using unparliamentary statements against Seputeh MP Teresa Kok Suh Sim.
"The court also agreed that the action of the second (NSTP) and third (KiniTV) defendants only reported on the incident fairly and was not defamatory as there was reasonable justification for the report made as they were protected under qualified privilege.
The court, however, made no order as to cost.
This prompted Khalid and KiniTV to appeal to the Appellate Court for costs.
Khalid was represented by lawyers Datuk S. N. Nair and Jaden Phoon Wai Ken while K. Shanmuga appeared for KiniTV.
Tajuddin was represented by Datuk Hasnal Rezua Merican and Muzzammil Merican.