My Way, Jamal Way or Milo Tin Way – Options for UMNO Youth leader and UMNO-PAS unity beyond politics
RM300,000 – that is the amount UMNO Youth chief Datuk Dr Akmal Saleh lost in a defamation suit filed by Seputeh MP Teresa Kok over allegation that the former made against the latter regarding halal certification.
Melaka High Court awarded RM250,000 in damages and RM50,000 in legal costs. In addition, the court instructed Akmal to remove the defamatory remarks from all of his social media platforms.
In September 2024, Akmal made some remarks after Kok questioned a proposal to make halal certification compulsory for restaurants and businesses that did not serve pork and alcohol.
She pointed out that it could burden businesses, especially the small ones. Akmal called her an “old nyonya” and suggested a “non-halal” label be placed on her forehead.
Would Akmal now go the Jamal Way or opt for the popular Milo tin to settle the payment?
Or does he have enough to pull it like Frank Sinatra’s classic by claiming “I did it my way”?
Sinatra’s song is entitled My Way. Co-incidentally this song was also closely associated to former UMNO president and ex premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad during his 22-year-long administration.
The Jamal Way
The Jamal Way is in reference to another UMNO leader – Sungai Besar division chief Datuk Seri Jamal Md Yunos who co-incidentally lost a defamation suit to Kok as well.
He lost a suit and was ordered RM300,000 over a speech in 2017 where he implicated Kok over alleged misuse of Yayasan Warisan Anak Selangor (Yawas) funds.
He lost the case in 2022 and was unable to settle an outstanding amount of RM66,00 until this year.
Prior to that, 14 assets belonging to Jamal Md Yunos were confiscated from his Ampang Jaya residence in Jan 2026.
An asset auction was put on hold in June this year after he settled the amount.
Milo tin method
The Milo tin method is a method popularised by PAS. The Islamist party distributes their Milo tins around during ceramahs to collect funds in their bid to settle defamation suits.
Several past and present PAS leaders have used this method successfully when they lose defamation suits.
Kepala Batas MP Dr Siti Mastura Muhammad lost a defamation suit to DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang, party advisor Lim Guan Eng and Kok in Apr 2026.
She had to pay a lofty RM750,000 for claiming that the DAP trio were related to the former Communist Party of Malaya secretary-general, Chin Peng.
Umno-Pas united in more than political collaboration
In the event Akmal fails to pay up, he may be declared a bankrupt. That would bar him from contesting the Melaka election scheduled for Nov 14 this year.
In an odd way, Akmal’s defamation loss mirrors PAS too.
Ironically, both UMNO and PAS have combined forces to win the state election in Negeri Sembilan and are forging their alliance in the Melaka state polls. - By Pragalath K
