Post on PM ‘begging’ for support not malicious, says news portal

 

The Agenda Daily news portal says the statements in its article on the prime minister are ‘facts, true and a comment of public interest’. (Reuters pic)

KUALA LUMPUR: The owner of a news portal facing a defamation suit from Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob over an article says it has practised responsible journalism.

Izwan Mohd Zubit, the proprietor of Agenda Daily Media Enterprise (Agenda Daily), said the article titled “Ismail Sabri bimbang jadi PM paling singkat, ‘rayu’ jangan tarik sokongan” (Ismail Sabri concerned about being the PM with the shortest tenure, begs not to pull out support) was not published with malicious intent.

“The defendant demands that the plaintiff (Ismail) provides details that it was done with malice,” Izwan said in his defence filed last week by Messrs Asiah Abd Jalil Law Chambers sighted by FMT.

He said the disputed statement must also be seen and interpreted contextually and not in isolation.

“Whether the statement is defamatory, it must be looked at objectively and evaluated from a reasonable man’s view,” he said.

Apart from the defence of responsible journalism, Izwan said, he and the news portal will rely on the defence of justification and fair comment.

“The defendant pleads that the statements in the article are facts, true and a comment of public interest,” he said.

He said the headline, which has the word “rayu” (beg), did not bring a negative connotation or disrespectful meaning in politics.

“On the other hand, it reflects a politician’s humility and to be big hearted to garner support for him,” he said.

Izwan said that at the time of Ismail’s appointment last year, he had the support of 114 of the 220 MPs in the Dewan Rakyat.

“As such, the government he is leading now has a slim majority,” he said.

In any event, he said, there was no reason for Ismail to file the suit because he could have offered a rebuttal.

“The plaintiff also has direct access to journalists, the television and mainstream print media to clarify the position of his public office and political career,” he said.

He said the laws recognised the role of the media to inform the people on public interest matters like the current political development, elections, political stability and administration of the nation.

“The public have the right to know, irrespective of whether the information is in favour or against the government,” he said, adding that the suit should be dismissed.

In the statement of claim, Ismail said the posting, in its ordinary meaning and by inference, implied that he was concerned about ending up as the prime minister with the shortest tenure in Malaysian history.

He said it was also implied that he was desperate to hold on to the position at any cost and was willing to “beg” a certain political party not to withdraw support for him.

The posting also gave the impression that he was concerned only about his position and did not care for the people, he said.

He is seeking a permanent injunction, damages and an apology to be published in Agenda Daily and two newspapers. - FMT