Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (fourth from left) with businessman Habibul Rahman (second right) outside court after recording the settlement. Lawyers Datuk Seri Dr Jahaberdeen Mohamed Yunoos (far right) and Lim Wei Jiet (third from left) are also with their clients. (Photo by Hafiz Yatim/The Edge)

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 3): Datuk Habibul Rahman Kadir Shah, a businessman and former adviser to former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, has settled his defamation suit against Muar Member of Parliament Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, following an open apology made by Syed Saddiq at the Sessions Court on Thursday.

Sessions Court judge Norakhmar Mohd Sani recorded the settlement after Syed Saddiq read his open apology statement in court from the witness stand, and Habibul Rahman stood in front of him and accepted the statement.

“The court records the apology made and the settlement by the defendant not to cause the publication or repeat of those defamatory words. No order is made as to costs,” Norakhmar said.

The Sessions Court judge also vacated the scheduled trial date, which was supposed to begin on Friday (Oct 4).

Syed Saddiq said he sincerely apologised publicly and unconditionally to Habibul Rahman for having made defamatory and offensive statements against him at a press conference at Seri Pacific Hotel, here, on Oct 2, 2017, when he was Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia youth leader.

“At the press conference, I made a reference to threats which were made against myself and my family leading up to the 14th General Election. I maintain that these threats did happen to me and my family.

“However, upon receiving further information later on, I am now made aware that at the time of making the statement, I was misled by several parties who led me to believe that what I was experiencing during that period of time was due to Habibul Rahman.

“I regret and deeply apologise for my defamatory statements which have caused various problems and difficulties for Habibul Rahman.

“I acknowledge that my statements have tarnished his reputation and soiled the distinguished image of a person who served as an adviser to the sixth prime minister, held multiple directorships in government-linked companies, founded HKS Consultants Sdn Bhd, excelled as a corporate strategist, and contributed as a lecturer,” Syed Saddiq said.

The MP acknowledged that the defamatory words concerning Habibul Rahman arose from misleading information conveyed to him which he now knows to be false and untrue.

“I extend my heartfelt and unconditional apology to Habibul Rahman, with the hope that the apology will restore his good name and mend the professional and personal relationship between us. I also undertake not to repeat those slanderous and offensive statements or any similarly offensive words to those words (that had been) directed against him in the near future,” he said.

Habibul Rahman filed the defamation suit in 2021, following Syed Saddiq’s refusal to apologise after a letter of demand was issued against Syed Saddiq for alleging a bribery attempt, which Habibul Rahman had denied.

The businessman was represented by Datuk Seri Dr Jahaberdeen Mohamed Yunoos, while Lim Wei Jiet appeared for Syed Saddiq.

After the statement was read, Syed Saddiq, who was formerly Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda) president, shook Habibul Rahman’s hand, and the court recorded the settlement.