KUALA LUMPUR – The High Court has set July 1 for case management of Bukit Gelugor MP Karpal Singh's RM10mil suit against Utusan Melayu (M) Sdn Bhd over a defamatory article regarding his comments on Islam.Deputy Registrar Anisah Normah Muhammad Nor fixed the date in chambers today.Lawyer Sangeet Kaur Deo appeared for Karpal Singh and M. Mohana Kumar, for Utusan Melayu.
Karpal Singh's stand
In his statement of claim, Karpal Singh, a lawyer, claimed that the article, entitled "DAP Diingat Jangan Bakar Perasaan Melayu" (DAP reminded not to inflame sentiments of Malays), published on Aug 25, 2008, in Utusan Malaysia, stated that he made the comments on Islam in his welcoming speech at the 15th DAP National Congress held the previous day.Karpal Singh claimed that the alleged defamatory words were understood to mean, among others, that he was a politician bent on creating ill-will among the different communities in the country, were absolutely false and malicious, and were intended to destroy his professional and political careers.The DAP national chairman said he had consistently maintained in his public speeches and during his membership of Parliament in the Dewan Rakyat for the last 26 years that Islam was the official religion of the country as provided under Article 3 (1) of the Federal Constitution.
He sought RM10mil in general, aggravated and exemplary damages, interest, costs and any relief deemed fit by the court.
Publisher's defence
Utusan Melayu, in its statement of defence filed on Nov 3, 2008, said the apology published in its newspaper was accepted by Karpal Singh as fulfilling his letter of demand.It claimed that the words complained by Karpal Singh were stated in the article as a result of a misunderstanding/confusion and that it was an honest mistake.It claimed that the article was published in good faith and was bona fide without any malice towards Karpal Singh.
Source : Bernama
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