Raja Nong Chik sues Nurul Izzah for defamation

KUALA LUMPUR: Former Cabinet minister Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin is suing Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar and two others for allegedly defaming him over the sale of prime land in Bukit Kiara.

He is seeking a court order to force the defendants to publish an apology, on his terms.

Raja Nong Chik also wants an injunction to stop the defendants from publishing any libellous words against him.

He is asking for general, aggravated and exemplary damages, interests and costs.

He has named Nurul Izzah, online news publisher Mkini Dotcom Sdn Bhd and its reporter Lu Wei Hoong as defendants in his libel suit.

On Friday, his lawyer M. Reza Hassan told the media that the suit is fixed for case management before High Court judge Justice Yeoh Wee Siam on Aug 19.

In his lawsuit, the former senator said Nurul Izzah has caused the publication of libellous and false statement against him at a press conference to the media on May 4.

He said Nurul Izzah has caused similar statements to be published in the Malaysiakini online news portal in two versions - Malay and English - on the same day.

He said the words implied that he has misused his position as the Federal Territories and Urban Well-being minister for his personal interest and gain.

He said the words also meant that he did not respect law, was untrustworthy and involved in a transaction which was doubtful and caused losses to the people.

He said the defendants has published the words without verifying its truth.

Raja Nong Chik said that the publication has tarnished his reputation and dignity as a politician, a former minister and a former senator.

He said his credibility had been ruined especially among the voters of the Lembah Pantai parliamentary constituency.

(In the 13th general election held on May 5, Nurul Izzah received 31,008 votes, beating Raja Nong Chik with a majority of 1,870 votes).

In his statement of claim, Raja Nong Chik said that he had sent a letter of demand dated June 10 through his solicitor asking Nurul Izzah to apologise, to promise not to publish libellous statements against him and pay appropriate damages but she had failed to do so.

He said that he had sent a similar letter to Mkini Dotcom and Lu and they, too, had failed to meet his demands.

He filed the suit through Messrs Raja Riza & Associates at the High Court civil registry on Wednesday.