Perkasa claims statement from ‘trustworthy source’
BernamaPublished: Feb 19, 2014 3:43 AM | Updated: Feb 19, 2014 3:51 AM
Perkasa information chief Ruslan Kassim told the High Court in Kuala Lumpur yesterday that the media statement he issued regarding Lim Guan Eng’s meeting with a senior leader of the People’s Action Party (PAP) in Singapore was obtained from a trustworthy source.
Perkasa information chief Ruslan Kassim told the High Court in Kuala Lumpur yesterday that the media statement he issued regarding Lim Guan Eng’s meeting with a senior leader of the People’s Action Party (PAP) in Singapore was obtained from a trustworthy source.
In his statement of claim, Ruslan, 55, said it was a reliable internal source and the meeting did take place which was admitted by the Penang Chief Minister himself in his testimony yesterday.
Responding to Guan Eng’s counsel Americk Sidhu, as to how the internal source was obtained, Ruslan (right) said it was from a website he had read.
“I don’t remember which website it was where I saw the statement. After discussing it with other Perkasa members I felt responsible and compelled to know what was discussed during the meeting between Guan Eng and the Singaporean senior leader,” he said on the second day of the defamation case against him and six others filed by Guan Eng.
Ruslan added an explanation was needed from Guan Eng to clear the air following his statement.
Ruslan said the media statement was issued with a good intention in the form of questions which only needed an explanation from the relevant parties.
“It was issued in Perkasa’s capacity as an NGO (non-governmental organisation) known for its policy of raising issues on obedience to religion, race and nation,” he said, adding that they had more than 400,000 members.
Further queried by Americk Sidhu if the media statement had been discussed first with Perkasa’s president Ibrahim Ali, Ruslan said: “I did not refer to him because I was given the freedom to issue any statement as long as it did not go against our policy.”
Meanwhile, to a question by his counsel Saleh Ahmad, Ruslan said: “The statement was misinterpreted and partly changed by The New Straits Times Press (M) Sdn Bhd and Utusan Melayu (M) Berhad, the other defendants in this case, resulting in the meaning and contents of the original statement being stated inaccurately.”
Apologised to Azman, but not to Guan Eng
Ruslan said he had apologised to Mohamad Azman Yahya for the inaccuracy and misinterpretation of the media statement but had not apologised to Guan Eng.
On May 11, 2012, Guan Eng (plaintiff) filed a defamatory suit against Ruslan, Ibrahim, Perkasa, New Straits Times (NST) former group editor Syed Nadri Syed Harun, The New Straits Times Press (M) Berhad, Utusan Melayu (M) Berhad group editor-in-chief Abdul Aziz Ishak and Utusan Melayu (M) Berhad.
In his statement of claim, Guan Eng claimed that Ruslan had published a statement on Perkasa’s website on Oct 1, 2011 asking businessman Mohamad Azman Yahya to explain his (Guan Eng's) meeting with Kalimullah Hassan and a PAP senior leader in Singapore on Aug 12, 2011.
The DAP secretary-general claimed that the statement implied that he (Guan Eng) was endangering national security by exposing the country’s secrets to Singapore.
He is seeking general, exemplary and special damages for RM15 million as well as interest, costs and other relief deemed fit by the court.
Guan Eng is also seeking for an apology on the front pages of the NST and Utusan and a promise by the dailies that they would not repeat the alleged defamatory statements.
The trial before Judge Nor Bee Ariffin resumes on April 23.
- Bernama
In his statement of claim, Ruslan, 55, said it was a reliable internal source and the meeting did take place which was admitted by the Penang Chief Minister himself in his testimony yesterday.
Responding to Guan Eng’s counsel Americk Sidhu, as to how the internal source was obtained, Ruslan (right) said it was from a website he had read.“I don’t remember which website it was where I saw the statement. After discussing it with other Perkasa members I felt responsible and compelled to know what was discussed during the meeting between Guan Eng and the Singaporean senior leader,” he said on the second day of the defamation case against him and six others filed by Guan Eng.
Ruslan added an explanation was needed from Guan Eng to clear the air following his statement.
Ruslan said the media statement was issued with a good intention in the form of questions which only needed an explanation from the relevant parties.
“It was issued in Perkasa’s capacity as an NGO (non-governmental organisation) known for its policy of raising issues on obedience to religion, race and nation,” he said, adding that they had more than 400,000 members.
Further queried by Americk Sidhu if the media statement had been discussed first with Perkasa’s president Ibrahim Ali, Ruslan said: “I did not refer to him because I was given the freedom to issue any statement as long as it did not go against our policy.”
Meanwhile, to a question by his counsel Saleh Ahmad, Ruslan said: “The statement was misinterpreted and partly changed by The New Straits Times Press (M) Sdn Bhd and Utusan Melayu (M) Berhad, the other defendants in this case, resulting in the meaning and contents of the original statement being stated inaccurately.”
Apologised to Azman, but not to Guan Eng
Ruslan said he had apologised to Mohamad Azman Yahya for the inaccuracy and misinterpretation of the media statement but had not apologised to Guan Eng.
On May 11, 2012, Guan Eng (plaintiff) filed a defamatory suit against Ruslan, Ibrahim, Perkasa, New Straits Times (NST) former group editor Syed Nadri Syed Harun, The New Straits Times Press (M) Berhad, Utusan Melayu (M) Berhad group editor-in-chief Abdul Aziz Ishak and Utusan Melayu (M) Berhad.
In his statement of claim, Guan Eng claimed that Ruslan had published a statement on Perkasa’s website on Oct 1, 2011 asking businessman Mohamad Azman Yahya to explain his (Guan Eng's) meeting with Kalimullah Hassan and a PAP senior leader in Singapore on Aug 12, 2011.
The DAP secretary-general claimed that the statement implied that he (Guan Eng) was endangering national security by exposing the country’s secrets to Singapore.
He is seeking general, exemplary and special damages for RM15 million as well as interest, costs and other relief deemed fit by the court.
Guan Eng is also seeking for an apology on the front pages of the NST and Utusan and a promise by the dailies that they would not repeat the alleged defamatory statements.
The trial before Judge Nor Bee Ariffin resumes on April 23.
- Bernama
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