Xavier wants apology, RM100,000 from FMT

The exco has accused the news portal of publishing a defamatory article about him. FMT, however, is sticking by its report.

PETALING JAYA: Selangor exco Dr Xavier Jayakumar has sent a letter of demand to FMT yesterday over a news report which he deemed was “inaccurate and defamatory”.

The report titled “Xavier pleads to be retained as exco” was published on Feb 22.

In his letter, sent through his lawyer S Selvarajah from Fernandez & Selvarajah, Jayakumar claimed that the report implied that he had begged PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim in order to be retained as an exco.

In addition, the PKR leader said that the article implied that he was inefficient as an exco and was involved in various scandals relating to the state and the Indian ommunity in particular.

Jayakumar has asked FMT to remove the article within seven days, tender an apology and assure him that the news portal would not publish similar articles in future.

He has also demanded that FMT pay costs and damages amounting to RM100,000 for injuring his reputation.

FMT managing editor Phlip Rodrigues, however, said that FMT would stand by its report. - FMT