The Pahang opposition leader said, given the positions they hold, even statements made in their personal capacity are likely to be linked to the party.

Therefore, it is important that PAS leaders verify their facts to avoid facing legal action, he said.

“We run the risk of being sued personally and having to pay damages. The party is also at risk (of having its image tarnished).

“So all leaders and members must exercise care to preserve PAS’s image and defend the integrity of the party’s leadership,” he said in an interview with FMT.

The Kubang Kerian MP was asked if PAS would direct its leaders to exercise greater caution in their speeches and statements in the light of several defamation suits brought against party leaders.

Last year, the High Court ordered Kepala Batas MP Siti Mastura Muhammad to pay DAP veterans Lim Kit Siang, Lim Guan Eng and Teresa Kok damages in the sum of RM830,000 after ruling that she had defamed them in a speech.

Siti Mastura had claimed that Kit Siang and Guan Eng were related to the late Communist Party of Malaya leader Chin Peng, and that Kok was a cousin of Guan Eng’s wife, Betty Chew.

She is appealing the decision

Perak PAS chief Razman Zakaria has also been at the centre of several controversial claims.

In 2022, he was sued over a claim that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had condoned LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) practices. The suit was settled in February 2023 after Razman apologised in court.

The Perak opposition leader was also forced to tender an apology to housing and local government minister Nga Kor Ming last year after he linked the DAP vice-chairman with a parade during which some participants had waved China’s national flag.

Just last month he apologised again — this time to youth and sports minister Hannah Yeoh for erroneously associating her with the Yeoh family which owns YTL Corporation Bhd.

According to Razman, Hannah intends to sue him for other allegedly defamatory remarks he made in a recent speech.