Najib withdraws defamation suit against Ling

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has withdrawn his defamation suit against former transport minister Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik over the former prime minister’s alleged misuse of public funds.

Dr Ling’s lawyer Ranjit Singh said Najib decided to withdraw the suit against his client and the court ordered Najib to pay RM25,000 in costs to Dr Ling with no right to refile the suit.

“In the meantime, Dr Ling has also withdrawn his counter-suit against Najib with no cost,” Ramjit said after meeting High Court judicial commissioner Daryl Goon Siew Chye in chambers here yesterday.

Najib’s lawyer Datuk Mohd Hafarizam Harun, who confirmed the matter, said in view of the latest political landscape, he advised his client that there were more pressing matters to attend to and they should move on.

“Therefore, my client has decided to withdraw the suit subject to Dr Ling withdrawing the counterclaim against him,” he said.

In his suit, Najib said an online news portal had published an article on Oct 3, 2015, quoting Dr Ling’s statements against him during a ceremony at Tunku Abdul Rahman University College.

In his statement of claim filed on Oct 27, 2015, Najib sought damages and an injunction to restrain Dr Ling from further speaking or publishing or causing to be published any similar defamatory words against him.

He had also asked for an order that Dr Ling publish a written apology in newspapers or magazines to be identified by him.

In his statement of defence, Dr Ling denied all the allegations and said the civil claim was frivolous and vexatious.

Dr Ling said that since Najib had admitted that RM2.6bil was indeed transferred into his personal bank account, he was relying on the defence of fair comment and qua­lified privilege for his remarks.

In the counterclaim filed on Dec 14, 2015, Dr Ling said Najib did not pursue such action against others who had repeatedly criticised his conduct and integrity.