Lawyer Abdul Rashid Ismail told the High Court here today that Rasyiq Alwi published the impugned statements on social media to ridicule Khairy, who was tasked with coordinating Malaysia’s Covid-19 vaccination programme.

He added that the preacher had made direct references to Khairy in his statements and that “he even tagged the plaintiff (Khairy’s username) on his social media”.

Rashid said the preacher was not remorseful, and had even issued a cynical “apology” to Khairy after the former minister’s legal team served him with the court documents.

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

He claimed Rasyiq’s remarks undermined the government’s efforts to curb the Covid-19 disease.

The hearing proceeded yesterday without Rasyiq present, despite Khairy’s lawyers notifying him of the date.

Rashid today said that Rasyiq, although unrepresented in the proceedings, was well aware that the hearing had been set for this week.

“We (Khairy’s lawyers) took the initiative to inform him about the pre-trial case management (after Rasyiq’s lawyers were discharged in 2023), and he attended two of them in the past.

“He repeatedly sought adjournments on grounds that he needed to appoint new lawyers or that he was not in Malaysia. His continuous absence shows a willful disregard for the court’s direction,” Rashid added.

Justice Raja Ahmad Mohzanuddin Shah Raja Mohzan fixed April 15 for a decision.