Akmal defends calling Teresa Kok ‘nyonya tua’, cites her age
Yesterday
Predeep Nambiar
Former federal minister Khalid Samad, however, says the Umno Youth chief did not need to resort to such harsh language
Seputeh MP Teresa Kok is suing Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh over a video posted on social media on Sept 7, 2024, regarding a parliamentary debate over a proposal to make halal certification compulsory for certain restaurants and food businesses.
PETALING JAYA: Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh has defended labelling Seputeh MP Teresa Kok a “nyonya tua”, citing her age, although a former federal minister branded such remarks as “extreme and dehumanising”.
“Regarding the reference to the plaintiff as a ‘nyonya tua’, this was my opinion concerning the plaintiff’s age, which I believe was a truthful observation,” Akmal said in a witness statement at the High Court in Melaka.
He also said his call for the government to place a non-halal logo on Kok’s forehead was meant figuratively, adding that “logically, it could not be understood as a statement of fact”.
Akmal said he had been angry and disappointed by Kok’s remarks in Parliament, which he considered insensitive and disrespectful of Islam, but denied defaming her.
He described his comments regarding Kok, uploaded on his social media accounts, as firm but reasonable political criticism.
He said he had a political and social duty to speak on the issue because his followers were Umno supporters who shared his political outlook.
Kok is suing Akmal over a video posted on TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram on Sept 7, 2024, regarding a parliamentary debate over a proposal to make halal certification compulsory for certain restaurants and food businesses.
In the video, Akmal repeatedly called the six-term Seputeh MP a “nyonya tua”, told her to remain silent if she did not understand Islam, and accused her of disturbing national harmony. He also called for a non-halal logo to be placed on her forehead.
In her witness statement, Kok said her comments had been limited to the possible cost and practical effects of making halal certification compulsory.
She said she supported halal certification and recognised its importance to Muslim consumers and the country’s halal industry, but her concern was about making it compulsory, not about Islam or halal certification itself.
She claimed that Akmal had turned a policy disagreement into an accusation that she disrespected Islam, opposed halal practices, and threatened racial and religious harmony.
She described the forehead remark as degrading and dehumanising.
Kok said the TikTok video remained online and had received about 850,000 views, 80,300 likes, 9,546 comments and 9,157 shares as of July 22.
Former Shah Alam MP and federal minister Khalid Samad, who appeared as a witness for Kok, said it was normal for an MP to raise concerns from constituents while a policy was still being considered.
Khalid said compulsory halal certification could impose higher costs, stricter sourcing rules, and continued inspections on small food operators. Some might also have to close or change what they sold.
He said Akmal could have disagreed with Kok professionally without using harsh and personal language. He described the forehead remark as extreme, degrading and intended to humiliate her.
He also rejected Akmal’s claim that Kok had undermined national harmony on grounds that 50 police reports had been lodged against her, adding that Umno had more than enough members to file such reports.
Kok’s lawyer, SN Nair, said both parties are due to present their final submissions on Sept 21 before judicial commissioner Isa Aziz Ibrahim.
Akmal is represented by Syahrul Syazwan Salehin.
“Regarding the reference to the plaintiff as a ‘nyonya tua’, this was my opinion concerning the plaintiff’s age, which I believe was a truthful observation,” Akmal said in a witness statement at the High Court in Melaka.
He also said his call for the government to place a non-halal logo on Kok’s forehead was meant figuratively, adding that “logically, it could not be understood as a statement of fact”.
Akmal said he had been angry and disappointed by Kok’s remarks in Parliament, which he considered insensitive and disrespectful of Islam, but denied defaming her.
He described his comments regarding Kok, uploaded on his social media accounts, as firm but reasonable political criticism.
He said he had a political and social duty to speak on the issue because his followers were Umno supporters who shared his political outlook.
Kok is suing Akmal over a video posted on TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram on Sept 7, 2024, regarding a parliamentary debate over a proposal to make halal certification compulsory for certain restaurants and food businesses.
In the video, Akmal repeatedly called the six-term Seputeh MP a “nyonya tua”, told her to remain silent if she did not understand Islam, and accused her of disturbing national harmony. He also called for a non-halal logo to be placed on her forehead.
In her witness statement, Kok said her comments had been limited to the possible cost and practical effects of making halal certification compulsory.
She said she supported halal certification and recognised its importance to Muslim consumers and the country’s halal industry, but her concern was about making it compulsory, not about Islam or halal certification itself.
She claimed that Akmal had turned a policy disagreement into an accusation that she disrespected Islam, opposed halal practices, and threatened racial and religious harmony.
She described the forehead remark as degrading and dehumanising.
Kok said the TikTok video remained online and had received about 850,000 views, 80,300 likes, 9,546 comments and 9,157 shares as of July 22.
Former Shah Alam MP and federal minister Khalid Samad, who appeared as a witness for Kok, said it was normal for an MP to raise concerns from constituents while a policy was still being considered.
Khalid said compulsory halal certification could impose higher costs, stricter sourcing rules, and continued inspections on small food operators. Some might also have to close or change what they sold.
He said Akmal could have disagreed with Kok professionally without using harsh and personal language. He described the forehead remark as extreme, degrading and intended to humiliate her.
He also rejected Akmal’s claim that Kok had undermined national harmony on grounds that 50 police reports had been lodged against her, adding that Umno had more than enough members to file such reports.
Kok’s lawyer, SN Nair, said both parties are due to present their final submissions on Sept 21 before judicial commissioner Isa Aziz Ibrahim.
Akmal is represented by Syahrul Syazwan Salehin.
No comments:
Post a Comment