His regrets also saw Umno withdrew its defamation suit against the Batu Member of Parliament.
KUALA LUMPUR: Umno has withdrawn its defamation suit against PKR vice president Tian Chua, after the Batu member of parliament expressed regret over his comments that Umno had orchestrated the Lahad Datu intrusion, last year.Well. We may have differences in ideology and politics but as Malaysians, patriotism must run in our blood, regardless of race.
Both parties agreed to the settlement in chambers, before High Court Judicial Commissioner Rosilah Yop.
“I’ve agreed to express regret for implying that Umno was involved with the Lahad Datu incident,” Tian Chua said when met outside the chambers.
He also said he did not mean to insult Umno by his statements.
As part of the settlement, the offending article published on PKR’s online portal KeadilanDaily.com would also be withdrawn.
Umno executive secretary Abdul Rauf Yusoh confirmed that a settlement had been reached on the case.
No order as to cost was given by the court in the consent judgment.
On March 15 2013, Ab Rauf filed the suit naming Tian Chua, KeadilanDaily.com editor Fazallah Pit and the article’s author Aisha Geoffrey, as defendants.
In his statement of claim, Ab Rauf said Tian Chua accused Umno of being a conspirator to the shooting incident; thereby implying it was a traitor to the country.
He said that a libellous article has been published on PKR’s online portal on March 1 under the heading “Insiden tembakan di Lahad Datu konspirasi terancang Umno – Tian (Shooting incident at Lahad Datu a planned conspiracy of Umno – Tian).
Ab Rauf had initially sought an injunction to prevent the defendants from publishing similar words, damages, an apology and costs.
In a statement of defence filed on April 22, Tian Chua said he did not defame Umno in any manner.
He claimed that the statement was fair comment and made on an occasion of qualified privilege as a member of parliament.
Let it serve as a reminder to all of us...