KeadilanDaily stands by report

KUALA LUMPUR- The Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) organ KeadilanDaily is standing by its controversial story, which quoted the party's vice-president Tian Chua and landed the leader in hot soup.

The organ's editor, Fazallah Pit, said he and his journalistic team adhered to professional journalistic standards and that the story per se did not have any problems.

"There was no problem with the story. People can see that," Fazallah said, when contacted by the New Straits Times.

Fazallah, who is a seasoned journalist, said his only issue with the matter was that certain bloggers had spinned the original story out of context.

He said this when asked to comment on Tian Chua's statement earlier yesterday distancing himself from the news report which was published on Friday, quoting him on the terrorists attacks in Lahad Datu.

Tian Chua, who is Batu member of parliament, said he was only responsible for the direct quotes in the article.

When asked whether KeadilanDaily had indeed misquoted him, Chua told a news conference yesterday that he was not responsible for the newspaper's action.

"Let's leave this matter to the court. I'm not responsible for what they wrote.

"I am only responsible for what I actually said in the news article," said Chua.

- New Straits Times