Ambiga still waiting TV3’s reply over Seksualiti Merdeka
(The Malay Mail) – TV3 has yet to reply to the letter sent by Bersih 2.0 chairman Datuk S. Ambiga’s lawyers regarding the channel’s labelling of the annual Seksualiti Merdeka festival as a free sex festival (pesta sex bebas).
Responding to The Malay Mail’s queries whether she will continue to sue TV3 on defamatory grounds, Ambiga said: “My lawyers sent a letter to them last week on their defamatory statement of calling it a ‘program seks bebas’ but my lawyers have not heard from them yet.
“I note, however, they have stopped using those words to describe the programme. Nevertheless, I await their response before consulting my lawyers further.”
Ambiga had threatened TV3 with the lawsuit last week and said the media was unfair in misleading the public on the true nature of the event, and demanded they correct their description of the event.
Seksualiti Medeka is an annual sexual rights festival organised by a loose coalition of non-governmental organisations.
This year, the festival’s theme was titled ‘Queer Without Fear’ and Ambiga was invited to launch the event by its organisers.
Police record Marina’s ‘sexuality’ statement
Police have taken a statement from Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir related to her support of the Seksualiti Merdeka 2011.
Bersih 2.0 steering committee member Maria Chin Abdullah said Marina was called to the Jalan Traver police headquarters last Friday.
“She was accompanied by members of Sisters in Islam.”
Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, when contacted, said police have wrapped up investigations into the matter and submitted the papers to the Attorney-General’s Chambers for further action.
Seksualiti Merdeka 2011 was organised by a coalition of NGOs, artistes, activists and individuals to “celebrate the human rights of people of diverse sexual orientation”.
It had been held annually since 2008 and was supposed to host a series of activities until Nov 13 at the Central Market in Kuala Lumpur.
Last week, it was reported Marina, who launched the event in 2009, said she was upset with unfair reporting by certain quarters, portraying the event as a “free sex fest”.
