TV3 ordered to pay Anwar RM1.1m

> Ex-DPM wins suit against station over report linking him to Lahad Datu incident

KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court yesterday awarded RM1.1 million in damages to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (pix) over his defamation suit against TV3.

The television station was found to have defamed Anwar by linking him to the intrusion of Lahad Datu by Filipino militants in 2013.

Judge Datuk Ahmad Zaidi Ibrahim granted him RM250,000 in aggravated damages, and RM250,000 and RM600,000 in exemplary and general damages respectively.

He also ordered TV3 to pay RM40,000 in costs.

In his judgement, Ahmad Zaidi said TV3 failed to practise “responsible journalism” in verifying its information before broadcasting it.

He said TV3 had broadcast a report on its 8pm Buletin Utama news slot based on an article published in Utusan Malaysia titled “Tiga Kumpulan Jadi Dalang” on March 2, 2013.

Ahmad Zaidi pointed out that TV3 published the report based on its source from Utusan Malaysia, who later admitted the report was not true.

He added that the court finds there was malice in TV3’s action because it refused to admit wrong, despite its source stating that the news was false.

Anwar, had filed the suit on March 8, 2013 against Utusan Malaysia and TV3, seeking RM100 million in damages and claiming the statements issued by them had implied that he was a threat to national security, a traitor and was involved in terrorism.

However, on Oct 5, 2016, Utusan Malaysia’s owner had settled the suit after stating that it regretted publishing the report.

Anwar was represented by lawyer Datuk S. Ambiga while TV3 was represented by Lim Qi Si.