Rauf, 56, said the former chief registrar of Masjid Tanah PPBM uploaded the status and images on his Facebook page under the name “Wan Motor” and “PPPBM Masjid Tanah” on Nov 11 and 12 last year. He said these contained the alleged defamatory remarks.
He said the published status and images also tarnished his reputation as Masjid Tanah Umno division chief and became a topic of conversation among Umno members and residents in the area.
“It also had a negative impact on my leadership, as if I was not eligible to be a leader,” he said when replying to a question from his counsel, Mohd Hafarizam Harun, on the first day of the hearing of his defamation suit against Ridwan.
“Ridwan’s action in publishing the status and pictures without obtaining any verification from me insulted and humiliated me,” he said.
Questioned by Hafarizam on the status of the images displayed by Ridwan of a family resort in Melaka, Rauf said the resort was owned by his brother, Husin Yusof, and was built on land inherited by his siblings from his late parents.
“The resort was built on a mutual understanding between us siblings and the cost of construction was from a pooled fund among us,” he said.
Rauf said allegations that he was corrupt and had “robbed” money from Umno to build the resort were untrue because before holding a position in Umno, he was already a businessman.
“The money for the construction of the resort was derived from the business I ran,” he said.
Rauf said his family had given him permission to use the resort for any activities or programmes related to his political career.
Rauf had in his personal capacity filed the suit on Jan 5.
In his statement of claim, Rauf alleged that the defamatory words, among others, meant that he was a dishonest person and had abused his position to mislead and win people’s hearts, especially those residing in Masjid Tanah.
He is seeking general and exemplary damages and other relief deemed fit by the court, and an injunction to prevent the defendant or his agents from re-publishing the defamatory words.
The hearing before Judicial Commissioner Faizah Jamaludin continues on Oct 24.