Teresa seeks RM25 Million in damages from Akmal

KUALA LUMPUR: Seputeh Member of Parliament Teresa Kok is demanding RM25 million in damages from Datuk Dr. Muhamad Akmal Saleh after alleging that the UMNO Youth Chief distorted her statements regarding halal certification issues.

According to Berita Harian, the Letter of Demand (LOD) to Muhamad Akmal was sent by Teresa through the firm Sankara Nair and Partners.

In addition to the RM25 million in damages, Teresa is also demanding reimbursement for all costs and expenses incurred due to this issue.

Consequently, Akmal, who is also the Merlimau State Assemblyman, has been given a period of seven working days to respond.

“If our client does not receive a satisfactory response from you within seven working days from the date of receipt of this notice, our instructions are to initiate legal action without further reference to you,” the notice stated.

According to a copy of the LOD shared with the media, it refers to a video posted on TikTok via the account @Drakmalsaleh on September 7, in response to Teresa’s statement made the day before regarding halal certification issues.

As of the date the LOD was sent, the video had garnered 720,500 views, with 75,000 likes, 9,314 comments, and 8,784 shares.

The LOD also references Teresa’s further clarification on September 8 regarding her stance on halal certification policies for restaurants that do not serve pork and/or alcohol.

It adds that, as a result of the TikTok statement made by Muhamad Akmal, several police reports were filed against Teresa, leading to her investigation under Section 298 and 505 of the Penal Code (Act 574) and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (Act 588).

The notice also stated that Muhamad Akmal’s statements portrayed Teresa as a racist, disrespectful of Islam, lacking knowledge about halal certification, insensitive and ignorant, opposing government policies on Islamic practices and religion, damaging national peace and harmony, and as an enemy of the state and unpatriotic.

Due to Muhamad Akmal’s failure, negligence, and malicious intent to not retract the defamatory statements despite Teresa issuing and/or publishing a clarification, the Seputeh MP has faced significant pressure and/or embarrassment from the public and has been subjected to police investigation.

Meanwhile, Muhamad Akmal, in a social media comment, stated that he is prepared to face Teresa in court.

“…we’ll see you in court. No fear, no surrender,” he said.