The fifth withdrawal of defamation suits filed against politicians and the media.
Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor have been ordered to pay a total of RM20,000 in costs to PKR vice-president Mohd Rafizi Ramli and another individual over the removal of oil subsidies issue.
The matter was informed by Rafizi’s counsel Ranjit Singh after the parties met High Court judge Judicial Commissioner Rohani Ismail in chambers on Tuesday (June 26).
Ranjit said JC Rohani instructed Najib and Rosmah to pay a cost of RM10,000 to Rafizi and another RM10,000 to Media Rakyat portal owner Chan Chee Kong.He said this was after Najib and Rosmah withdrew their defamation suit against Rafizi and Chan.
Counsel Joanne Leong acted for Chan.
In their suit, Najib and Rosmah said Rafizi, who is also former Pandan MP, allegedly made a slanderous speech against them at a forum in Bandar Tun Razak on Nov 22, 2014 on issues relating to oil subsidies.
They claimed that Rafizi’s allegations also meant that they had committed theft by pocketing the subsidy monies for themselves.
They further said it also meant that they were guilty of theft and corruption, and had betrayed the people of the country by stealing public monies.
They added that the recording of the speech had been uploaded by Chan onto YouTube, Media Rakyat’s webpage, and its Facebook page.
This is embattled Najib’s fifth withdrawal of defamation suits filed against politicians and the media.
Since losing power in the May 9 general election, Najib has already dropped defamation suits against former transport minister and former MCA president, Dr Ling Liong Sik, PAS mouthpiece Harakah and two others, Damansara MP Tony Pua and news portal Malaysiakini relating to readers’ comments on the Terengganu menteri besar imbroglio.
The other three mentioned above are related to 1MDB.
There is another suit pending by Najib against Pua.