RAC sues Chegubard for defamation, secures interim injunction

Perbadanan Aset Keretapi (RAC) has initiated legal proceedings against political activist Badrul Hisham Shaharin, also known as Chegubard, over alleged defamation. According to the source, the statutory body is taking issue with a speech Chegubard delivered at a PAS event in Kemaman, Terengganu, on September 25.

RAC alleges that through this speech, Chegubard falsely claimed that the corporation sold railway assets as scrap metal before leasing them back at a significant cost. The corporation also asserts that the rolling stock strategy (RSS) project was awarded through improper procurement procedures, as per the statement of claim.

To prevent Chegubard from repeating these alleged defamatory statements, RAC has obtained an interim injunction from the High Court in Seremban. The injunction order requires Chegubard to remove videos containing the statements from social media. The court has scheduled an inter partes hearing for the injunction application on January 20, 2027, pending the disposal of the application.

Chegubard's legal representation sought additional time to file his affidavit in response. In the claim, RAC maintains that the allegations are false and do not accurately depict the actual scope or implementation of the RSS project, which involves 44 locomotives and 246 freight wagons under a 25-year leasing arrangement with a total commitment estimated at RM4.4 billion. RAC seeks a declaration that the statements are defamatory, an apology, damages, and a permanent injunction against the repetition of the statements.