AN opposition MP has slammed UMNO’s move to issue a letter of demand to two media outlets over alleged defamatory reports on the party’s internal affairs.
In his criticism, Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng argued a seven-member Federal Court bench had unanimously ruled in March 2021 that political parties cannot institute action on defamation.
The landmark judgement was made in a defamation lawsuit which was filed against Lim by MCA in July 2017 over remarks Lim had made in 2016 alleging that the political party had used government funds allocated for Chinese vernacular schools.
Then MCA secretary-general Tan Sri Ong Ka Chuan claimed that Lim’s remarks seriously injured MCA’s reputation, adding that the party was seeking RM100 million in general and exemplary damages.
On the matter of UMNO’s letters of demand to Malaysiakini and Astro Awani, Lim said the apex court decision in March 2021 will “not only annul UMNO’s threat to sue both [media outlets] over alleged defamatory articles but make UMNO appear lacking in grey matter for wasting the court’s time”.
“Why hasn’t any of the 38 UMNO MPs told the party about the latest principle of law in Malaysia regarding defamation suits by political parties?” Lim questioned.
“Or is UMNO so bogged down by infighting that it can no longer function as a government ruling party?”
“Lodge complaints to PDRM, K-KOMM instead”
Lim said rather than suing media organisations for defamation in the event that these organisations have published “fake news” UMNO should instruct its members to lodge complaints with Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) and the Communications and Multimedia Ministry (K-KOMM).
“In the modern world, the media is given the status of being the fourth pillar of democracy to protect the freedom of press,” Lim elaborated.
“For this reason, the media houses in Malaysia should just ignore any political threats. UMNO and its coalition Barisan Nasional should also be reminded that gone were the days when the media could be banned to protect corrupt political parties.”
Earlier UMNO Youth chief Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said a letter of demand was issued to Malaysiakini and Astro Awani demanding a retraction, written apology and compensation of RM25 mil in damages from each media organisation for “defamatory” statements published on their portals.
“If there are any more quarters slandering UMNO in any form of report, commentary or fake news, UMNO Youth and I will not hesitate to take similar action,” he wrote in a Facebook post last night (Aug 30).
In a report last week, Astro Awani quoted a source saying a majority of UMNO division leaders were against a proposal for Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, who is also a party vice-president, to intervene in Najib Razak’s SRC International appeal.
Last Friday, Malaysiakini quoted an UMNO and government source as saying Ismail was told to hold the next general election (GE15) soon or he would be sacked from the party.
The report claimed that the prime minister was issued the ultimatum during UMNO’s political bureau meeting last Wednesday (Aug 24). – Aug 31, 2022
