News reports linking Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim with the armed incursion in Lahad Datu, Sabah, specifically the one appearing in Umno-owned Malay daily Utusan Malaysia , are designed to kill him politically, his lawyers declared today.

“The first defendant ( Utusan ) is owned by Umno, which is a party that is the political rival to the plaintiff (Anwar) and intends to destroy his political career,” says the statement of claim filed by Anwar’s lawyers against Utusan and TV3 in the Kuala Lumpur High Court today.

NONE In his defamation suit, Anwar is demanding RM100 million in general damages as well as unspecified punitive and aggravated damages, exemplary damages and costs from Utusan and TV3.

Anwar is also seeking an injunction to be issued against both media outlets from repeating their allegations in future.

The suit names Utusan publisher, Utusan Melayu (Malaysia) Bhd, TV3's parent company Sistem Television Malaysia Bhd, Utusan editor Abdul Aziz Ishak, TV3 group managing editor Shahruddin Abdul Latif and TV3 news editor Ing Boon Seng as defendants.

The media outlets had published/aired news alleging that Anwar was linked to the incursion of the more than 150 armed combatants from the self-styled ‘Sulu royal army’ into Sabah.

The source article, titled ‘ Tiga Kumpulan Jadi Dalang ’ (Three groups are masterminds) was published on page 9 of the March 2 edition of Utusan , where claims linking Anwar to the armed incursion were made, quoting Philippine intelligence sources as reported by the Philippine Star .

'Reports linked Anwar to terrorism'

TV3 later reproduced elements of the Utusan news report, including the allegedly defamatory claims, in its prime time news Buletin Utama segment, on the night of March 2.

Anwar was represented by N Surendren and Latheefa Koya.

Speaking to reporters after filing the suit, Surendren said the article and news broadcast had cast serious aspersions on his client and linked Anwar to treason and terrorism.

NONE Furthermore, it was detrimental to his stature as the Malaysian parliamentary opposition leader and that the news was distributed widely, not only in the local press but in the international media as well.

Latheefa ( right ) added that the suit was filed after both Utusan and TV3 had failed to respond to the letter of demand for apology and retraction of the news within the 24 hours specified.

TV3, she said,  had written to ask for a two-week extension while Utusan also requested an extension, but did not specify for how long.

Latheefa insisted that they had already provided both TV3 and Utusan ample time to reply, for despite the 24-hour deadline given in the letter of demand, the filing of the suit today was effectively one week later.