Khairy, who served as the coordinating minister for the Covid-19 immunisation programme, said the government was duty-bound to advocate vaccination to the public in order to mitigate the effects of the pandemic.

“This case is important to send a message that it was irresponsible to spread false information during a public health crisis,” he said.

Khairy also said that he chose to lead by example by becoming the first person in Malaysia to take the Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine in a bid to assure the public that it was as effective as Pfizer-BioNtech.

Khairy filed a lawsuit against Rasyiq Alwi in 2022 over the latter’s allegation that he had “lied” about his vaccination status.

He claims Rasyid’s remarks undermined the government’s efforts to curb the Covid-19 disease, and is seeking damages from Rasyid.

Another lawsuit filed against former Umno Supreme Council member Lokman Noor Adam was settled after Lokman tendered an apology to Khairy for his remarks.

Besides Khairy, former health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah also testified.

He told the court that Khairy took two doses of Sinovac vaccine and a Pfizer booster dose in 2021.

Noor Hisham said “there was a lot of misinformation (at the time) and lack of trust (in vaccines), which we had to dispel”.

He said he and then prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin took the Pfizer vaccine, to show it was safe for everyone.

The hearing continues before Justice Raja Ahmad Mohzanuddin Shah Raja Mohzan tomorrow.