Suit filed against Sarawak Report

ALOR STAR: Pas filed defamation proceedings against Sarawak Report for smearing the party’s reputation and image with baseless allegations.

Its president, Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, said the move was meant to protect the party’s integrity from unfounded allegations by Sarawak Report founder and editor Clare Rewcastle Brown.

Hadi said while Pas was willing to forgive local daily Nanyang Siang Pau for publishing an insulting caricature, the party could not compromise on the false allegations carried by the Sarawak Report.

He said this in a press conference after opening the party’s 63rd muktamar yesterday.

Brown claimed that the Pas president personally received a large sum of cash from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in exchange for Pas to compromise on its political stand and certain issues.

On April 21, Hadi initiated defamation proceedings against Brown at the Queen’s Justice Division High Court in London.

Hadi is seeking damages, including aggregated damages for libel in respect of words published by the defendant in an article titled “As Najib Denies All Over 1MDB, Let’s Not Forget His Many Other Criminal Connections – COMMENT”.

Hadi is also seeking an injunction to stop the defendant from publishing the same or similar article and other relief.

Pas had embarked on a donation drive to raise RM200,000 for legal expenses during the muktamar and as at noon today, it has collected RM23,150.