Utusan and editor ordered to file defence in suit

KUALA LUMPUR: Utusan Melayu (M) Bhd and its editor-in-chief Datuk Abdul Aziz Ishak have been ordered to file statements of defence in a Rm50mil defamation suit by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for allegedly implying that he wanted to legalise homosexuality.

High Court judge Justice Vazeer Alam Mydin Meera fixed Feb 28 for case management after meeting both parties yesterday.

In his suit, the Opposition Leader is also seeking an injunction to restrain the defendants from further publishing similar words in the print media or the Internet.

Anwar said the defendants had falsely and maliciously printed words defaming him in the front page of Utusan Malaysia on Jan 17 under the heading “Tolak Anwar – Hassan ( Reject Anwar - Hassan)”.

He said the newspaper also carried the defamatory article inside under the heading “Parasit ancam PAS, Anwar mesti ditolak (PAS threatened by parasites, Anwar must be rejected)” that day and that the defendants had made similar allegations in the daily days earlier.

Anwar said the words implied that he was unfit to hold public office and a Muslim leader who held views inconsistent with the teachings of Islam and/or held deviant views.

In his statement of claim, Anwar said the words were purportedly based on an interview that the PKR leader had given to the BBC.

He said he had, through his solicitors on Jan 17, demanded from the defendants a retraction, apology and damages, but they had failed to comply with the request.

The serious and scandalous nature of the defamation had caused personal anguish to him and his family, he added.