KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 19 — Seputeh MP Teresa Kok has won RM250,000 in damages in her defamation suit against Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh over remarks he made during a dispute on halal certification.

Free Malaysia Today (FMT) reported that the High Court in Melaka also ordered Dr Akmal to pay RM50,000 in legal costs, remove the defamatory statements from his social media accounts within seven days and refrain from repeating them or making similar remarks about Kok.

In a statement posted on Facebook, Kok said she hoped the judgment would serve as a reminder that democratic freedoms must be exercised responsibly.

“I hope this judgment serves as a reminder that democratic freedoms must be exercised responsibly. I remain steadfast in my commitment to serving the people and defending democratic values,” she said.