Court orders Utusan Melayu to pay Tony Pua RM200k

(Bernama) – The High Court here today ordered Utusan Melayu (Malaysia) Berhad to pay RM200,000 in compensation to Petaling Jaya Utara Member of Parliament Tony Pua Kiam Wee regarding the article published by Utusan Malaysia daily, last year.

Lawyer Elly Azureen Khalid, who represented Utusan Melayu, told reporters that the court made the decision after the newspaper published an apology regarding the publication of the article titled “Tony, Anwar Dirujuk Jawatankuasa Hak dan Kebebasan” on Nov 15 last year.

Elly Azureen said the apology was published on May 23, 2015.

She said Judge Datuk Hue Siew Kheng, who made the decision in chambers, also ordered Utusan Melayu to pay cost of RM15,000 to Pua.

On Jan 16, Pua filed the suit, claiming that the article contained four defamatory statements, which implied that he was an immoral politician, shameless and incompetent businessman.

He sought general and aggravated damages, interest, costs and other relief deemed fit by the court.

Pua was represented by lawyer Guok Ngek Seong.