Najib wants Malaysiakini to say sorry, not regret in defamation suit

(Malay Mail Online) – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak who has sued Malaysiakini for defamation has rejected the news portal’s offer to express regret, which falls short of a full-fledged apology, a legal source said today.

“Mkini offered to tender regret (without prejudice) but PM isn’t happy with regret; he wants apology,” the source told Malay Mail Online on condition of anonymity.

The source added that the suit is fixed for case management next Tuesday before Justice Kamaludin Said at the Seremban High Court.

Najib, in his personal capacity, and Umno executive secretary Datuk Ab Rauf Yusoh, on behalf of Umno, filed a defamation suit in May last year against Mkini Dotcom Sdn Bhd, Malaysiakini editor-in-chief Steven Gan and the news portal’s then chief editor Fathi Aris Omar, over two articles published on May 14, 2014, in Malaysiakini’s “Yoursay” column.

National news agency Bernama reported last June that Najib and Rauf claimed that the two articles—“A case of the PM reaping what he sows” and “How much will Najib spend to keep Terengganu?”— had marred their reputation and suggested that Umno was incompetent.

According to Bernama, the defendants also claimed that the articles implied that Umno was misusing power for the party’s interests and that the Malay ruling party was undemocratic.