Najib, Rosmah ordered to pay RM20,000 in costs after dropping suit against Rafizi and portal

KUALA LUMPUR: 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 suit against Rafizi and Chan.

Counsel Joanne Leong acted for Chan.

Meanwhile, Najib and Rosmah's counsel Datuk Mohd Hafarizam Harun confirmed the withdrawal.

In their suit, Najib and Rosmah said Rafizi allegedly made a slanderous speech against them at a forum in Bandar Tun Razak on Nov 22, 2014 on issues relating to oil subsidies.

Najib claimed Rafizi, who is also former Pandan MP, uttered offending words in respect of his office.

Rosmah claimed said his words implied she had committed a criminal act.

They said the recording of the speech had been uploaded by Chan onto YouTube, Media Rakyat's webpage, and its Facebook page.