KUALA LUMPUR: Former minister Khairy Jamaluddin has filed a RM1mil suit against Sungai Besar Umno division chief Datuk Seri Jamal Md Yunos over alleged defamation on the latter's social media.

Khairy, 47, filed the writ of summons through Messrs Aizat Izuan Shakeel at the High Court registry here on May 24.

In his statement of claim, Khairy said Jamal uttered the defamatory statement at a press conference in conjunction with the Umno general assembly 2022 at the World Trade Centre (WTC) on Jan 14.

Khairy, who was a former Umno Youth chief, was sacked from the party on Jan 27.

He claimed that the defendant - through his Facebook account under the name "DS Jamal Yunos (DS Jamal Yunos Official)" - had uploaded the press conference, which lasted five minutes and 29 seconds.

The next day, Jamal allegedly uploaded the same video on his TikTok account under the name "jamal_yunos".

Khairy contended that the statements made by Jamal at the press conference and subsequent publications referred to him as his name, Khairy Jamaluddin, were clearly stated in the titles and the contents of the said publications.

Khairy claimed the statements implied that he was a leader with no integrity and was corrupt.

He further claimed that the publication of the press conference had defamed him and exposed him to public humiliation where his character, reputation and good name were badly affected.

Khairy is seeking a court order for the defendant to issue an apology on his social media accounts as well as in mainstream newspapers of his (Khairy) choice.

He also wants a court order for the publication to be deleted from the date of the court ruling.

Khairy is also seeking RM1mil in special damages and an unspecified amount of general, aggravated and exemplary damages, as well as interests, costs and other relief deemed fit by the court.

The lawsuit is fixed for case management at the High Court on May 30..