Saifuddin had previously alleged that Sanusi was involved in the theft of rare earth elements (REE) and the misappropriation of federal funds allocated under the Malaysian Road Records Information System (Marris).
Justice Johan Lee Abdullah ordered Saifuddin to pay RM600,000 in general damages and RM70,000 in costs to Sanusi.
The court ordered Saifuddin to publish apologies in a major Malay and English newspaper within 14 days, with the wording approved by Sanusi.
A permanent injunction and an undertaking not to repeat the defamatory remarks were also imposed.
Saifuddin has since responded, saying that he will file an appeal against the ruling by the Alor Setar High Court.
In a statement, Saifuddin said he had consulted his legal team and believes there are strong legal grounds to challenge the ruling.
“I have instructed my lawyers to immediately file an appeal at the Court of Appeal. I will also apply for a stay of execution of the decision pending the outcome of the appeal,” he said.
The minister added that he respected the rule of law and believed the judicial system would give him a fair opportunity to present his arguments and defend the truth.
Saifuddin stressed that his past remarks were made out of responsibility to highlight matters of public interest, and he reaffirmed his commitment to openness, integrity, and accountability as key principles of democracy.
On Aug 7, 2023, Sanusi filed a defamation suit against Saifuddin for allegedly linking him to the theft of rare earth elements and misuse of federal funds earmarked for road maintenance projects.
He said statements made by Saifuddin the month before had tarnished his reputation as a political leader.
In a ceramah on July 15, 2023, Saifuddin said Sanusi should confirm whether, as chairman of Menteri Besar Incorporated (MBI), he had been penalised with a compound fine of RM500,000 over the alleged rare earths theft in Sik.
At a press conference on July 14, 2023, Saifuddin alleged that Sanusi had misused RM1.6 billion in Malaysian Road Records Information System (Marris) funds – which were meant for road maintenance – for development purposes instead.