KUALA LUMPUR – Umno has demanded RM25 million in damages each from news sites Malaysiakini and Astro Awani, among others, over recent reports deemed “defamatory”, or the party will initiate legal action.
The matter was confirmed by Umno Youth chief Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki in a Facebook post last night, in which he attached the letters of demand that were issued to both publications, respectively dated August 26 and 29.
“If there are any more quarters slandering Umno in any form of report, commentary or fake news, Umno Youth and I will not hesitate to take similar action.
“It is time for us to act more aggressively through the legal channel as Umno has long been a ‘gentleman’, allowing rampant slanderers to the point of creating negative perceptions that would hurt the party and its supporters.”
On August 26, Asyraf Wajdi had threatened legal action against Malaysiakini and Astro Awani pertaining to their reports over the chain of events that occurred during recent party meetings, which purportedly revolved around Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s imprisonment.
The Malaysiakini article in question had claimed that Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had demanded for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob to call for a general election immediately or be sacked from the party.
This was after the party’s political bureau meeting on August 24 had expressed its disappointment with Najib’s conviction in his SRC International Sdn Bhd corruption case.
Astro Awani, meanwhile, had reported that during the party’s emergency meeting on August 22, division leaders had urged Ismail Sabri to intervene in Najib’s case.
Both articles had quoted unnamed sources.
In the notice of demand issued by law firm Shahrul Hamidi & Haziq, it demanded that apart from the RM25 million in compensation for severe damages caused by the articles, the two publications must reveal the inside source and informer who had supposedly issued the “unfounded allegations” against Umno.
The media agencies were also told to remove the relevant articles from their websites immediately, and to cease and desist from making, publishing and issuing further defamatory statements.
Separately, Umno also demanded an unconditional apology in writing and a retraction of their statements, as well as to publish their apologies in two national newspapers of its choice.
“Please take note that in the event that we do not receive any satisfactory response to the above, it shall be deemed that you do not deny or dispute our client’s (Umno’s) claims as set out in this notice, and notwithstanding that you intend to continue publication of the said defamatory statements,” the notice of demand read.
“In that case, we have our client’s strict instructions to commence legal proceedings against you without any reference being made to you, including applying for an injunction to restrain any such further publication.” – The Vibes, August 31, 2022
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