SHAH ALAM (Sept 17): The High Court here on Tuesday granted an interim injunction sought by former deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Dr Mashitah Ibrahim against a non-governmental organisation (NGO) — the Malaysia International Humanitarian Organisation, and two of its office bearers, to remove its purportedly defamatory post which alleged that she and her husband were involved in human trafficking.

The temporary injunction was granted by Judicial Commissioner Jamirah Ali for the NGO to remove the post until the hearing of an inter-partes injunction on Nov 18.

Should the court grant an injunction after the inter-partes hearing (both sides submitting), the removal of the post would have to be done until a decision has been made in the suit.

The outcome was confirmed by Mashitah’s counsel Datuk Akberdin Abdul Kader after the proceedings before Jamirah, which was also attended by the NGO’s lawyer Mohd Falaq Adnan.

On Friday (Sept 13), it was reported that Mashitah had filed the suit at the Shah Alam High Court on Sept 9. Mashitah, who is also the former Baling member of Parliament, had also named the NGO’s secretary general Datuk Hishamuddin Hashim and committee member Azirul Syafiq Sazali as defendants.

She is claiming general, compensatory, aggravated, and exemplary damages, as well as costs, along with other relief deemed necessary by the court. The former politician is also seeking an injunction against the NGO from repeating and publishing the claim on social media.

In her statement of claim, Mashitah complained that publication of the allegation made by the NGO last month has since received wide coverage from the media, tarnishing her reputation by relating her to the scandal, and resulting in her facing hatred and anger in the eyes of society.

She claimed that the allegation had resulted in mental stress on her, trauma, and she was in fear of her security and that of her family.

“The defendants ought to know that the publication of the defamatory statement and video on their Facebook and TikTok [accounts] had resulted in speculation, defamation, and negative effects on her dignity, reputation and credibility,” said the statement of claim.

Mashitah said she had lodged police reports on Aug 29 and 31, fearing her safety over the defamatory statement made.

She highlighted that Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain had on Sept 7 issued a statement, clearing her and her husband from the human trafficking claim alleged by the NGO.

“Despite this, the defendants had failed to comply” with the letter of demand, Mashitah said, claiming that “it is clear that the defendants had acted [in] malice and carelessness”, and that she is entitled to seek damages.