Utusan ordered to apologise to PKR rep

Umno-owned daily Utusan Malaysia has been ordered to publish an open apology and pay compensation to Indera Mahkota MP Azan Ismail for a defamatory report that claimed he had resigned from all his posts in PKR.

Both parties reached a settlement today before Justice Hue Siew Kheng of the Kuala Lumpur High Court.

Azan had filed a RM29 million defamation suit against the Malay-language daily on April 5, 2010, after reports were published on March 6 and 8 respectively.

Azan (right in photo)said the court ordered Utusan Melayu (M) Bhd, the publisher of Utusan Malaysia, to pay him compensation, but did not make an order as to costs.

While he declined to disclose the amount of compensation - as the court has barred this - he described the quantum as "reasonable".

"The court ordered the newspaper to publish an open apology and a corrected article, both within seven days," he said, adding that he will withdraw his suit once this is done.

"I hope to see a return to the old days of integrity in the electronic and print media.”

He was represented by A Vasudevan, while TKB Mohana Kumar represented Utusan.

Azan had named Utusan editor Zulkiflee Bakar and Utusan Melayu (M) Bhd as respondents.

He said the newspaper had, in the first report, inserted his photo alongside those of other politicians who had quit PKR.

On March 8, Utusan reported that he had not left the party, but had relinquished all his posts in PKR.

In claiming that this had tarnished his reputation, Azan had also sought an injunction to prevent the respondents from publishing any further defamatory reports about him.