Selangor Menteri Besar Mohamed Azmin Ali has given Utusan Malaysia 48 hours to apologise over its front page article yesterday titled "Azmin benar pesta arak" (Azmin allows beer festival).
The front page bore the kicker "Tidak hirau amaran PDRM megenai ancaman pengganas" (Ignores police warning on terrorist threat), while the page for the accompanying article bore the title "Azmin tidak kisah pesta arak di Selangor" (Azmin unperturbed by beer festival in Selangor).
His lawyer Latheefa Koya said the allegations contained in the article were false, malicious and defamatory, with the purpose of causing disrepute to her client.
In view of this, Azmin is seeking a withdrawal of the article, a front-page apology and an undertaking to not make similar allegations in the future.
"In view of the extreme seriousness of the allegations and the wide distribution of the newspaper, kindly state what sum you are prepared to pay as damages to our client for the injury done to our client's good name and reputation and in vindication of the public's right to fair media reporting," said the lawyer.
The Utusan Malaysia report yesterday paraphrases Azmin's stating that his administration respected the rights of other ethnic groups and religions.
Utusan appears to be the only news organisation to run with such a story angle, with most news organisations reporting him as saying that the "Better Beer Festival 2017" organisers would have to comply with local government regulations were the event relocated to Selangor.
Yesterday, the Selangor Menteri Besar's Office clarified that Azmin would not preempt local authorities on the matter, and that his duty was to implement the state's laws.- Mkini
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.