KUALA LUMPUR: Former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's defamation suit against Umno veteran Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi was settled amicably today.
The suit was over Puad's statement on his Facebook account questioning the alleged double standards involving Muhyiddin's three-day quarantine issued during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Puad, who is now the Johor state assembly speaker, shook hands with Muhyiddin who is Pagoh member of parliament and read out the agreed statement before High Court judge Hayatul Akmal Abdul Aziz.
The Umno supreme council member when reading the statement thanked Muhyiddin for not extending the matter.
"On Feb 9, 2021, I issued a statement on my Facebook regarding the quarantine period under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Exemption) Order 2021, which was deemed false and defamatory by Muhyiddin.
"On March 1, 2021, Muhyiddin sued me and obtained an ex-parte injunction against me. I have since deleted that statement from all my social media platforms.
"The issue arose during the country's battle against the Covid-19 pandemic.
"Since then, the government has successfully contained it, and the country has emerged from the Covid-19 pandemic.
"I am grateful to Muhyiddin for not prolonging this issue further, and I deeply regret any inconvenience caused," he said.
On March 1, 2021, Muhyiddin filed the suit against Puad over the latter's statement on his Facebook account questioning the alleged double standards involving the three-day quarantine issue.
Muhyiddin claimed Puad had tarnished his integrity and goodwill, and eroded public confidence in him.
Muhyiddin claimed that the statement made by the defendant had caused him to be brought into public scandal, odium and disrepute as it contained plainly untrue, unwarranted and mischievous statements against him.
Muhyiddin is seeking general, exemplary and aggravated damages, among others.
The plaintiff is also seeking a court order for Puad to immediately, prominently and permanently publish an unequivocal public apology on his Facebook page "Dr Puad Zarkashi" in terms to be dictated by Muhyiddin.