Umno files defamation suit against Tian Chua

(NST) - Umno has filed a defamation suit against Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) vice-president Chua Tian Chang, better known as Tian Chua, over an article posted in KeadilanDaily.com relating to the Lahad Datu intrusion.

The legal action filed through Messrs Hafarizam Wan & Aisha Mubarak last March 15 by Umno executive secretary Datuk Ab Rauf Yusoh also named KeadilanDaily.com editor Fazallah Pit and the writer of the article, Aisha Geoffrey, as defendants.

 

Counsel Nor Hazira Abu Haiyan, who represented Ab Rauf at the mention of the case today before Justice Rosilah Yop in chambers, said the court had fixed April 23 for Tian Chua, who is also Batu member of parliament, to file his defence and for case management.

 

In his statement of claim, the plaintiff alleged that Tian Chua had made disparaging statements against Umno during an interview by a portal journalist, which were posted through an article, 'Insiden tembakan di Lahad Datu konspirasi terancang Umno" (Shooting incident in Lahad Datu an Umno orchestrated conspiracy) on March 1.

 

Ab Rauf claimed that the PKR vice-president had damaged Umno's image as the intrusion in Lahad Datu involved the sovereignty of the country and was also a sensitive issue, with regard to the bloodshed and arbitrary claim on Sabah which rightly belonged to Malaysia.

 

According to the plaintiff, he sent a notice of claim dated March 4 to Tian Chua for the latter to issue a written public apology and to withdraw the defamatory statements but did not receive any response.