The Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) today filed a defamation suit against Felda Settlers' Children Association (Anak) president Mazlan Aliman, PAS secretary-general Mustafa Ali and five others over allegations that Felda sold its palm oil to Israel.

The writ of summons was filed through Mssrs Hafarizam Wan & Aisha Mubarak at the High Court Registrar's Office in Kuala Lumpur.
    
Felda named Mazlan and Mustafa as the first and second defendant, with Harakah editor-in-chief Ahmad Lutfi Othman, editor Taufek Yahya, writer Mohd Arif Atan and publisher Angkatan Edaran Ent Sdn Bhd, as well as Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, as the third to seventh defendants.
    
According to the statement of claim, Felda alleged that Mazlan had uploaded a defamatory statement to his Facebook page on Nov 19 last year and had also made a defamatory statement during a gathering in front of the Felda office four days later (Nov 23).
    
Felda claimed that the statement was republished by the second to sixth defendants through several articles in the Harakah newspaper between Nov 26 and 29 last year.

Felda also claimed that the statement had affected Felda's reputation and that all defendants had done so with the intention to achieve their personal agendas to destroy people's faith in Felda.

The plaintiff is seeking general and exemplary damages, costs as well as other relief deemed fit by the court.

Felda is also applying to the court for an injunction to stop Mazlan and his agents from talking about or publishing the defamatory statement in the Internet and print media.

The plaintiff is also demanding a written apology from Mazlan in local newspapers and magazines.

Meanwhile, Felda's lawyer Wan Azmir Wan Majib told reporters that they would send the writ of summons to all defendants within this week.

- Bernama