KUALA LUMPUR: Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom has handed a letter of demand to
National Oversight and Whistleblowers (NOW) director Akmal Nasir urging him to apologise in two days over a claim the minister used funds from the Malaysian Islamic Economic Development Foundation (YaPEIM) to finance his trip abroad.
Lawyer Adnan Seman @Abdullah, who represented Jamil Khir, told the media that a letter of demand dated Nov 16 was handed to Akmal yesterday evening.
According to the letter, from the legal firm Adnan Sharida & Associates, Akmal had issued and published a media and general statement, and also on the web site and Facebook, under NOW on Nov 13, which was slanderous in nature and untrue against Jamil Khir.
If Akmal, who is also Johor Parti Keadilan Rakyat publicity chief, failed to reply to the letter of demand in two days, the firm had strict instructions to proceed with legal action against him.
“Our client has refuted all slanders and mischievious accusations issued and published by you. You have also failed and refused to tender an apology and to retract the statement, despite our demand. Therefore, we have been firmly directed by our client to tender the demand on you,” said the letter.-Bernama
In the letter, which was signed by Adnan, Jamil Khir demanded, among others, that Akmal tendered a verbal and written apology in two days from the date of the letter, namely, on Wednesday, to him.
He also demanded that Akmal withdrew the entire libellous statement, which he had issued, in two days from the date of the letter and to pledge that he would not make or issue the statement, or whatever statements which were the same, related to the reputation and integrity of the minister.
Jamil Khir also demanded a general compensation of RM10 million, namely, compensation over the slanders and mischievous and false accusations against him.
The minister strongly refuted the statements, which were slanderous in nature, and mischievous and false accusations which had impacted badly and brought ill-repute to him.
According to the letter, the statement was an attack on the self-esteem and reputation of his client and also suggested that his client was a corrupted and untrustworthy minister who misused the money of orphans. -BERNAMA