Rosmah awarded RM100,000 in TikTok defamation lawsuit

KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court has awarded Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor (pic) RM100,000 in damages in her defamation lawsuit against a TikToker concerning her appearance.

Justice Ahmad Shahrir Mohd Salleh ruled that Rosmah had successfully established her entitlement to damages in her lawsuit against Ku Muhammad Hilmie Ku Din, with a global award of RM100,000 deemed just and proportionate.

“This global award in the sum of RM100,000 comprises general and aggravated damages. The claim for exemplary damages is not allowed as there is no cogent evidence before this court to support such an award,” he said during the decision for the assessment of damages on Tuesday (July 8).

The court ordered interest at a rate of 5% per annum on the judgment sum to be imposed from the date of judgment until full satisfaction of the award.

On May 28, last year, the court allowed Rosmah’s application to enter a judgment in default (JID) against TikTok account owner Ku Muhammad Hilmie, who failed to appear in the case. The decision on damages was deferred for later assessment.

Rosmah filed the suit through Messrs Hafarizam Wan & Aisha Mubarak on Sept 19, 2023. She claimed that Ku Hilmie had uploaded a TikTok video on March 2, 2023, containing defamatory content against her.

The wife of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak alleged that the post implied she committed a sin, was linked to bomoh activities and Satan, practised polytheism, and needed to repent.

She stated that the TikTok post prejudiced her reputation as the wife of a former Malaysian prime minister and a patron to charities, leading to public criticism and damage to her reputation as a public figure.

Rosmah sought general, aggravated, and exemplary damages to be assessed by the court, and an injunction to prevent Ku Hilmie or his agents from repeating the defamatory post, among other relief deemed fit by the court.

However, the injunction application was withdrawn due to the defendant’s non-appearance.