Publisher ordered to pay RM350,000 for defaming FELDA

The book insinuated that the agency would profit at the expense of the settlers

KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court here today ordered National Felda Settlers’ Children’s Association (Anak) president Mazlan Aliman and a company to pay RM350,000 in damages to the Federal Land Development Authority (FELDA) for defaming the agency in a book.

Justice Su Geok Yiam also ordered Mazlan and the company, Angkatan Edaran Enterprise Sdn Bhd, the publisher of the book “FELDA… Dulu Tolong, Sekarang Ah Long”, to pay RM150,000 in legal costs to FELDA.

On July 20, 2009, FELDA filed a suit against Mazlan and Angkatan Edaran Enterprise Sdn Bhd over the publication of the book, claiming that the title of the book carried a meaning that FELDA was an ‘Ah Long’ (loan shark) or illegal money lender.

In the statement of claim, FELDA stated that the book gave a picture that the agency would get huge profit from various development programmes to the extent of suppressing the settlers.

It said the content of the book was malicious and that it was published to tarnish FELDA’s reputation.

- BERNAMA