Ex-editor apologises over article
Published on: Wednesday, October 01, 2014
KUALA LUMPUR: The former editor of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) newspaper 'Suara Keadilan', Dzulkarnain Taib, Tuesday apologised to the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) and its subsidiary, Felda Global Ventures Holdings Sdn Bhd, over the publication of two articles which were false in the weekly. Dzulkarnain, in his apology statement read in open court, said the articles published by 'Suara Keadilan' was with the intention to disparage the plaintiffs and damage their reputation.Referring to one article, he said the headline 'Felda Bangkrap' (Felda Bankrupt) was intentionally published by the newspaper to sensationalise Felda issues.ADVERTISEMENT "As an editor of 'Suara Keadilan' at the time, I had suggested that the headline be in the form of a question and advised that such a statement can bring upon a defamation suit."But the top PKR management of 'Suara Keadilan' insisted on continuing with the headline (Felda Bangkrap) with the intention to cause maximum damage to the reputation of the plaintiffs," he said.Dzulkarnain, who was unrepresented, also stated that he had previously made an open apology to Felda and its subsidiary regarding these articles at a book launch held at Menara Felda on April 10, last year.Accordingly, he retracted all the defamatory statements and apologised unconditionally to Felda and its subsidiary.ADVERTISEMENT The defamatory statement was contained in the first article entitled 'Felda Bangkrap' published on June 22, 2010, and the second article with photographs entitled 'Kontroversi' (Controversy) and 'Bina Bangunan RM662 juta Hanya Libatkan Tiga Individu' (Building RM662 million building only involves three individuals) which were published in the June 29, 2010 edition.High Court judge, Datuk Wira Kamaludin Md Said, then struct out the Felda suit against Dzulkarnain, who is now a media consultant, without any order in relation to costs.
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Kamaludin also recorded a consent judgment containing the statement of apology read out by Dzulkarnain in court.On Aug 16, 2010, Felda and its subsidiary filed a suit against PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Senator Dr Syed Husin Ali, who was then PKR vice-president, Dzulkarnain, and the author of the article Rusnizam Mahat on charges of publishing the two aforementioned defamatory articles. Felda claimed the articles affected their image and the confidence of the Felda settlers against the agency.In connection to this, the Felda suit against Dr Wan Azizah, Syed Husin, and Rusnizam is still being continued.Meanwhile, after the apology proceedings, the counsel for the defendants, Francis Pereira raised a preliminary issue on Felda's capacity to initiate a lawsuit against his client on the grounds of Felda being a statutory body registered under the Companies Act 1965, citing it id not have the locus standi to file the suit.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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Lawyer Datuk Ahmad Firoz Hussein Jamaluddin, representing Felda, said based on the outcome of an appeal in the Court of Appeal in the Felda suit against the former Land and Co-operative Development deputy minister, Datuk Dr Tan Kee Kwong, the court decided Felda can file a suit.Therefore, he said, the High Court is bound by the decision of the Court of Appeal. The High Court has set Oct 17 to decide on the issue.- Bernama