Najib drops defamation suit against Malaysiakini

Former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak has withdrawn his 2014 defamation suit against online news portal Malaysiakini.

The settlement was recorded before judicial commissioner Faizah Jamaludin at the Kuala Lumpur High Court today.

The case is the latest in a slew of defamation suits being dropped by the former premier following the 14th general election last month that deposed him from public office.

The suit against Malaysiakini was filed on June 3, 2014, alleging that two articles compiling readers' comments on the Terengganu menteri besar imbroglio that took place that year were defamatory.

Umno executive secretary Abdul Rauf Yusoh and Najib were named as plaintiffs in the suit while Mkini Dotcom Sdn Bhd, editor-in-chief Steven Gan and then chief editor Fathi Aris Omar were named as respondents.

Commenting on the withdrawal, Gan (below) said the case was the first time a media outlet was sued by a prime minister.

“We’ve been fighting this case for four years. It’s good that this has finally come to an end so that we can go back to focusing on doing what we do best, which is delivering news and views that matter to Malaysians.

“Malaysiakini has the distinction of being the first media organisation to be sued by a sitting prime minister. I hope the new government will not follow this example,” he said.

Gan said while there were bound to be discordant voices in a democracy, a prime minister had “no business” in seeking to shut down legitimate debate and discussion.

He also thanked lawyer Malik Imtiaz Sarwar, A Surendra and Ashok Kandiah among others for representing the portal on a pro bono basis.

Tony Pua, Harakah too

Following the May 9 general election that saw BN’s shock defeat, Najib has dropped at least three other suits he had filed while in power.

On May 22, he withdrew his defamation suit against former MCA president Dr Ling Liong Sik. His lawyer Hafarizam Harun said at the time that is because of the changed scenario in the country and the need to focus on other pressing matters.

On May 28, Najib dropped his defamation suitagainst Damansara MP Tony Pua and Media Rakyat owner Chan Chee Kong.

On June 1, he dropped his defamation suit against the PAS mouthpiece Harakah, its managing director Rosli Yaakop and its chief editor Taufek Yahya.

The suits against Ling, Pua, and Harakah each pertain to allegedly defamatory statements they made about Najib regarding the 1MDB scandal. - Mkini