Malaysia’s prime minister and ruling party are suing a news website over readers’ comments criticizing the government, the site said on Tuesday.
Operators of Malaysiakini.com said they were served with a summon on Tuesday for defamation filed by Prime Minister Najib Razak and the United Malays National Organization (UMNO).
The premier’s office had threatened action on May 15 over readers’ comments on the website, including one criticizing him as the country’s worst leader, under the heading “A case of PM reaping what he sows.” Another comment titled “How much will Najib spend to keep Terengganu” suggested that the leader pays off local politicians to stop them from leaving the ruling party.
The plaintiffs were seeking general, special, aggravated, excessive and exemplary damages for the alleged defamation.
Editor-in-chief Steven Gan in May refused the premier’s request to apologize, retract the criticism and promise not to publish any more similar comments or face legal action, saying “we are standing our ground.” Mr. Gan was named a defendant in the lawsuit alongside chief editor Fathi Aris Omar and publishing company Mkini Dotcom Sdn Bhd.
A source at the prime minister’s office said the case was filed on Friday before the Kuala Lumpur High Court.
UNMO and Mr. Najib also sought an injunction to stop Malaysiakini from disseminating or referencing the offending comments, or similar ones, in any form.
Mr. Najib last week told reporters the lawsuit was not part of a wider crackdown on the media or free expression.
“It is not an attempt to silence critical voices,” he said. “I welcome criticism which is informed and constructive,” he said. “But there is a difference between legitimate criticism and defamation,” adding that Malaysiakini “overstepped the line.”
