Rafizi won't apologise for Rosmah remark, will see Najib in court

PKR secretary-general Rafizi Ramli said he will not apologise to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak but will simply wait to see the premier in court.

The Pandan MP is adamant the remark he made about the prime minister's wife during the anti-Goods and Services Tax (GST) rally last Saturday was a joke.

“I will see them in court. I won't apologise because I said it in jest,” he said, over his references to the Rosmah Mansor and fashion house Jakel Trading.

Responding further to a possible lawsuit, Rafizi opined it would be a bit of an "overkill", pointing out that it was one of his mildest speeches, made while experiencing a fever.

“In ceramah, things are always said in jest. What I said pales in comparison to what Dr Mahathir (Mohamad) had said,” he argued, citing Najib’s number one critic who doesn't mince his words.

Admitting that Najib has the right to sue, the Pandan MP however said the premier should not be playing double standards over the matter.

“If you want to be so sensitive, sue Mahathir, The Wall Street Journal and anyone who said the same thing,” he said.

Politicians should avoid suing

As politicians, Rafizi said one should not be too quick to resort to filing defamatory suits.

“I don't think politicians should sue people - people talk about you every day.

“Some have said that I'm gay, that I stole money. I can sue, but I don't think I should, because being under public scrutiny, it’s part and parcel of what public officials are.

“We have access to the media to explain our side of the story, When I was attacked with allegations that I was sacked from Petronas for stealing money, I just explained things,” he said.

However, he said, there are exceptions under certain circumstances.

Citing the inspector-general of police (IGP) Khalid Abu Bakar, who had claimed Rafizi had made up stories about police's instructions to put his hands behind his back during his recent arrest, the MP said he has mulled legal action as it concerns his credibility.

“That (the allegation) will impact how I will continue my work. When I make exposes, it would be easy for people to quote him (the IGP) and say that I lied,” said Rafizi, adding he will stop the process of suing the top cop if the latter does not repeat his remarks.

Rafizi’s lawyer, Saiful Izham Ramli, had claimed that police officers had instructed his client to keep his hands behind his back during his arrest under the Official Secrets Act (OSA).

However, Khalid dismissed this as "cooking up fairy tales to confuse the public".

Rafizi insists the orders were from the police officers in charge, and is considering suing the IGP. -Mkini