Ku Nan Retracts Defamatory Statement On Sivarasa Using Mosque For Political Purposes

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Former Federal Territories Minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor today retracted his defamatory statement made about Deputy Rural Development Minister Sivarasa Rasiah, which claimed the PKR MP had given a political speech while visiting the An-Nur Mosque in Kampung Melayu Subang, Selangor, in May, last year
The retraction was done before High Court Kuala Lumpur judicial commissioner Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh in chambers where Tengku Adnan was represented by lawyer SS Ruban while Latheefa Koya and Shahid Adli Kamarudin appeared for Sivarasa
"The matter has been resolved and my client has retracted. No order is made as to costs and the trial dates vacated," Ruban said
This was confirmed by Latheefa who said Sivarasa does not want to prolong the issue and has accepted the retraction
"There is no order as to costs or damages," she said
The retraction statement by the Putrajaya MP, known as Ku Nan, reads: "Saya Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor selakudefendant di dalam guaman sivil ini dengan ini menarik balikkenyataan saya bertarikh June 1, tahun lepas yang mana jadi asastuntutan Sivarasa terhadap saya seperti diplidkan di perenggan 3 penyataan tuntututan"(I, Tengku Adnan, as defendant in this civil action is retracting the statement I made on June 1, last year which forms the basis of Sivarasa's (defamation) claim on me as stated on the third paragraph of the statement of claim.)It was reported that Sivarasa filed the suit on June 13 last year, following Tengku Adnan's allegation that the former had given a political speech while visiting the An-Nur Mosque during the breaking of fast
Sivarasa claimed that Tengku Adnan's statement was malicious
“He knew that I had already denied it in my earlier press statements which were widely reported. His false statement implies that I had the intent of using the mosque for political purposes and I did not give due respect to it,” said the MP when the suit was filed
Sivarasa's mosque visit on May 24 last year had caused a stir and angered Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah
He then apologised to the Selangor ruler in a letter, explaining what had actually transpired during the programme was not political in nature.Sivarasa also claimed that Tengku Adnan had also used the mosque for political purposes and would provide a video during trial
Following the retraction, the trial scheduled next week has been vacated
With the retraction, Latheefa said Sivarasa has withdrawn his suit. - Mkini

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