News Portal Told To File Defence Over Pm S Suit By Tomorrow

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Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob is seeking damages and an apology to be published in Agenda Daily and two newspapers. (Bernama pic)KUALA LUMPUR: A news portal owner facing a defamation suit from Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob over an article has been ordered by the High Court to file his defence by tomorrow.
Lawyer Joshua Tan, representing Ismail, said deputy registrar Idamasliza Maarof made the decision after an online case management between the parties.
Lawyer Asiah Abdul Jalil represented the defendant, Izwan Mohd Zubit, in his capacity as the owner of Agenda Daily Media Enterprise, a business enterprise that operates the news portal.
Ismail is suing Agenda Daily for its article titled “Ismail Sabri bimbang jadi PM paling singkat, ‘rayu’ jangan tarik sokongan” (“Ismail Sabri concerned about being the PM with the shortest tenure, begs not to pull out support”) that implied he had begged his Perikatan Nasional (PN) allies for their continued support.
Tan said Idamasliza had also instructed Ismail to file his reply to the defence by April 6.
Another case management has been fixed on April 21.
Tan said an interim injunction obtained by the prime minister on March 4 will remain in force pending the outcome of the injunction application on April 27.
In the statement of claim, Ismail said the posting, in its ordinary meaning and by inference, stated that he was concerned about ending up as the prime minister with the shortest tenure in Malaysian history.
He said it was also implied that he was desperate to hold on to the post of prime minister at any cost and was willing to “beg” a certain political party not to withdraw support for him.
He added that the posting also gave the impression that he was concerned only about his position and did not care for the people.
He is seeking a permanent injunction, damages and an apology to be published in Agenda Daily and two newspapers. - FMT

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