Judgment reserved in Saifuddin Nasution’s appeal over RM600,000 awarded to Sanusi

On August 3, 2023, Sanusi Nor filed a lawsuit against Saifuddin Nasution over defamation related to soil degradation and misuse of funds under the Malaysia Road Records System (Marris). The Judicial Review Court today postponed Saifuddin's appeal against the High Court's decision ordering him to pay RM600,000 in compensation to Kedah Chief Minister Sanusi Nor over REE and funds misappropriation under Marris.

A three-judge panel, led by Judge Azhahari Kamal Ramli, delivered the ruling after hearing arguments from lawyers Razlan Hadri Zulkifli (representing Saifuddin) and Yusfarizal Yussoff (representing Sanusi). The court set October 16 as the management deadline to determine the hearing date, according to Judge Kamal, who presided alongside Ong Chee Kwan and Radzi Harun.

On August 24, 2025, the High Court granted Sanusi's lawsuit against Saifuddin after finding him responsible for the defamation. The court awarded Sanusi a total compensation of RM600,000, including general damages, severe damages, exemplary damages, and costs amounting to RM70,000. Earlier, Razlan argued that if the court finds any statement not carrying legal meaning and causing liability, then the plaintiff's defamation claim should be dismissed.

If the defamation issue can be proven only partially, the defense's justification and fair comment need to be determined based on the majority of the facts proven through evidence. Meanwhile, Yusfarizal stated that the court's findings align with the plaintiff's arguments in the High Court, which state that political success is not a measure of reputation damage in defamation lawsuits.

The High Court's acceptance of the plaintiff's arguments, if granted, would mean that no successful politician can claim compensation for defamation, which is not yet a law or a precedent. Therefore, I argue that this appeal should be rejected with costs, and the High Court's decision, including the awarded compensation and ancillary relief, should be upheld.

On August 3, 2023, Sanusi filed a lawsuit against Saifuddin alleging that on July 14 of the same year, the defendant made statements at a public event in Penang after attending a formal ceremony and making a statement regarding REE, implicating that the defendant had used funds designated under Marris for road development purposes.

Saifuddin stated on July 15, 2023, during a campaign rally in Guar Chempedak, Yan, that the defendant made statements regarding REE, claiming that the plaintiff had stolen the relevant soil.