I have no qualifications in comparative religious studies, says UUM professor

FMT:

 

I have no qualifications in

comparative religious

studies, says UUM

professor

FMT Reporters

-16 Jan 2025, 08:00 AM

Kamarul Zaman Yusoff also acknowledges that none of the published works listed on his CV relates to comparative religion, or law.

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Hannah Yeoh is suing Kamarul Zaman Yusoff over two Facebook posts which she claims accuse her of ‘driving a Christian agenda’.

KUALA LUMPUR: 

The Universiti Utara Malaysia professor involved in a libel suit brought by youth and sports minister Hannah Yeoh has acknowledged that he possesses no formal qualifications in the fields of comparative religious studies or law.

Testifying in his defence to the suit, Kamarul Zaman Yusoff told the High Court he holds a diploma in administrative and legal studies, and a Bachelor of Arts in political science and psychology.

He also said he holds a master’s degree and a PhD in Malaysian political history.

Cross-examined by lawyer Sangeet Kaur Deo, representing Yeoh, Kamarul conceded that none of the published works and research papers listed on his CV relates to the study of comparative religion, Malaysian law, or legal issues in the country.

He agreed that many of his articles were about PAS, saying his main interest was in its development as a political party.

Yeoh is suing Kamarul over the content of two documents he authored: an article titled “Hannah Yeoh contoh hipokrasi terbesar DAP di Malaysia” (Hannah Yeoh, the biggest example of DAP hypocrisy in Malaysia) and a police report he lodged against her, which he published on Facebook eight years ago.

She claims Kamarul in both documents accused her of “proselytising Christianity through her politics”, driving a “Christian agenda” and “intending to convert Malaysia into a Christian country”.

She says the words were offensive, entirely untrue, and a malicious attempt to defame her.

Under cross-examination, Kamarul insisted he was qualified to express his opinion on Christianity and the law.

Sangeet: Where is your formal qualification?
Kamarul: Don’t have.

Kamarul also told the court that he held the position of senior fellow at the Institute of Islamic Strategic Research Malaysia (Iksim), which comes under the purview of the Islamic development department, until 2018.

He said his tenure ended after the change of government following the 14th general election.

Sangeet: Was Iksim dissolved due to allegations of mismanagement of funds amounting to RM7.4 million?
Kamarul: I am not sure.

The hearing continues before Justice Aliza Sulaiman today.

Kamarul was represented by Khairul Azam Aziz.

Yeoh filed the suit in 2022. She is seeking general, aggravated, and exemplary damages from Kamarul.

Kamarul denies that the contents of the article and the police report were defamatory of Yeoh. He says his comments were based on excerpts from Yeoh’s book, Becoming Hannah, A Personal Journey, published in 2014.

He says his comments were factual in nature, and true.