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Najib, Rosmah sue Rafizi, portal owner over diamond ring remark

Najib, Rosmah sue Rafizi, portal owner over diamond ring remark

PKR secretary-general Rafizi Ramli has been slapped with a defamation suit by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor for comments related to fuel prices made at a forum last year.

Also named as defendant in the suit is Chan Chee Kong, the Mediarakyat portal owner.

The couple said Rafizi stated that the rising fuel prices would allow Rosmah to buy more diamond rings.

In an immediate response, Rafizi said his lawyers have yet to be served with the writ but he vowed to vigorously fight the suit against him in court.

"I only came to know through media reports that they have commenced legal action against me after my lawyers responded to their letter of demand last year," he said.

Rafizi said the public would be waiting for the momentous occasion when his lawyers get the opportunity to cross-examine Najib and Rosmah should the matter go on trial.

"But I believe this is an attempt to scare Pakatan Rakyat leaders from raising issues that concern the people. I will continue to voice out matters of public interest and will not be intimidated."

The suit was filed at the Kuala Lumpur High Court registry yesterday by Messrs Hafarizam Wan & Aisha Mubarak, the solicitors for Najib and Rosmah.

In their statement of claim, the couple said Rafizi had uttered defamatory remarks relating to rising fuel prices at a forum in Bandar Tun Razak on November 22, 2014.

Najib and Rosmah said Rafizi's speech in a video titled "Kenapa kita pertahan subsidi minyak" (Why we defend petrol subsidies) was recorded by Mediarakyat, and that Chan or his assistants uploaded it on YouTube for the world at large to have access.

The video is also on Rafizi's Facebook page.

Najib and Rosmah said Rafizi's speech, which was reproduced in the video, was clearly intended to defame them.

They said Chan also failed to subcribe to the principles of responsible journalism for his failure to verify the allegation before the video was made available for public consumption.

“The defendants knew that any publication will bring irreparable damage to us and lower our reputation in the minds of the public," the statement of claim said.

Najib and Rosmah are demanding damages deemed fit by the court and a public apology to be published in newspapers and magazines.

They have also filed an injunction to prevent the Rafizi from further publishing the video pending the outcome of the suit.

Najib and Rosmah have also demanded that Chan remove the video from YouTube, Mediarakyat and Facebook.

Najib has also filed a similar suit against Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua over comments the lawmaker had allegedly made on the strategic investment fund 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).

Tony has filed his defence, citing, among others, that as lawmaker he had a duty as the people's representative to raise issues of public interest.

The DAP national publicity chief said the public have the right to receive information on issues that affect them and all facts were verified before it came into public domain.

Pua also questioned Najib's standing to file the suit since he was Pekan MP, prime minister and finance minister.

"His conduct should be subjected to criticism when he is holding public positions," Pua added. – April 17, 2015.