Sultanah expected to file suit against Rewcastle-Brown

PETALING JAYA: The Sultanah of Terengganu is expected to file a defamation suit against Sarawak Report editor Clare Rewcastle-Brown some time this week.

According to reports in The Malaysian Insight, the suit is for claiming that she had conspired with fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho in the multi-billion-dollar 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal.

The suit will also name Gerakbudaya as defendants, the publisher for RewcastleBrown’s book The Sarawak Report: The Inside Story of 1MDB Exposé, as well as printers Vinlin Press.

Letters of demand were served to all three parties, stating the deadline of 5pm yesterday for an apology to be issued.

The sultanah’s lead counsel, Mohd Haaziq Pillay Abdullah, said she had received a “very unreasonable offer of settlement” from the parties.

Lawyers representing Sultanah Nur Zahirah intend to file the suit at the Kuala Terengganu High Court.

“The lawyers wrote to us asking us what we wanted, including damages. But they’ve refused (to settle). They are not prepared to give an apology as we have requested.

“It looks like the matter would have to be litigated in court,” he said.

The suit focuses on one paragraph on page 3 of Rewcastle-Brown’s book, published on Sept 8, that alleged the sultanah was involved in a conspiracy with Low and the previous Barisan Nasional administration in the 1MDB scandal.

The sultanah has denied meeting Low or supporting him in securing an advisory role at the Terengganu Investment Authority (TIA), which was later rebranded as 1MDB.

She has also denied interfering in government affairs or being involved in TIA or 1MDB.

The sultanah is seeking RM100 million in damages from each party unless they each issue a written apology, an unequivocal public retraction and an undertaking not to repeat the statements.