Terengganu Sultanah demands unequivocal apology and withdrawal of book or it’s an RM300 million suit against author, publisher, printer
Sarawak Report editor Clare Rewcastle-Brown has up to Oct 5 to issue a “full written, unequivocal public retraction” of a passage in her book about the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal or face an RM100 million defamation suit.
Sultanah of Terengganu Sultanah Nur Zahirah has served a letter of demand to three parties, including Rewcastle-Brown to make a public retraction and apology in terms to be approved by her lawyers by Oct 5.
The other two parties are the book’s publisher Gerakbudaya Enterprise and the printer Vinlin Press Sdn Bhd.
In a press conference at the Sheraton Hotel in Petaling Jaya on Sept 29, the Sultanah’s lawyer, Datuk Mohd Haaziq Pillay Abdullah, said they also had to give an undertaking not to repeat such statements and to withdraw from circulation versions of the book which contained the passage.
On Sept 27, Sarawak Report had apologised if the book led to any misinterpretation on the Sultanah’s part that it suggested that she was conspiring with Jho Low or was involved in the government administration in the 1MDB scandal.
The news outlet also clarified that it did not suggest she was linked to the Terengganu Investment Authority (TIA) or the 1MDB board in any way.
Originally known as the TIA, the sovereign wealth fund was set up in 2008 aimed at spurring sustainable, long-term socio-economic development in Terengganu.
A year later, it was renamed 1MDB.
Mohd Haaziq said Rewcastle-Brown’s “apology” was not a proper one.
“The apology that was issued is not an apology. The arrow has left the bow.
“If you look at (the apology), it is a bit qualified. ‘If you misinterpreted it, I am sorry’. That is not the way defamation law works,” he said.
He stressed that Sultanah Nur Zahirah had never met Jho Low.
“Her Royal Highness does not know Jho Low and her knowledge of him is based on media reports,” he said, denying that the Sultanah ever interfered in government affairs or was involved in TIA or 1MDB.
“We are of the view that (Rewcastle Brown’s) statements are unjustified, baseless and have aspects of insult,” he said, clarifying however that the legal action had nothing to do with Rewcastle-Brown’s book on 1MDB as a whole.
“We are only concerned about page three which contains defamatory statements,” he said.
Mohd Haaziq added that the statements have caused distress, embarrassment and injury to the reputation of the Sultanah.
“When she read it, she was extremely distressed, very upset and, most importantly, hurt because these are malicious statements which were not verified,” he said.
Mohd Haaziq said the proceeds of any damages awarded by the court would be donated to charity.
“The Sultanah does not want the money, but wants to preserve the reputation of the Terengganu royal household and her position as her royal highness the Sultanah,” he said.
The lawyer was accompanied by the royal comptroller of the Terengganu Palace, Mohd Azmi Mohamad Daham.