THE Terengganu sultanah will sue Sarawak Report editor Clare Rewcastle-Brown, publisher Gerakbudaya and printer Vinlin Press Sdn Bhd for RM300 million for alleging she conspired with businessman Low Taek Jho in the 1Malaysia Development Bhd affair.
Any damages awarded by the court will be donated to charitable organisations, said her lawyer, Mohd Haaziq Pillay Abdullah today.
The three parties had until Friday to apologise after letters of demand were served on Thursday, he said.
The suit focuses on one paragraph on page 3 of The Sarawak Report: The Inside Story of 1MDB Exposé, published on September 8, which alleged that the sultanah was involved in a conspiracy with Low – better known as Jho Low – and the previous government administration in the 1MDB scandal.
Sultanah Nur Zahirah is seeking RM100 million in damages from each party unless they each issue a written apology, an unequivocal public retraction and an undertaking not to repeat the statements.
The author of the book, Rewcastle-Brown said on Sarawak Report on Thursday evening that she was sorry if the sultanah “has been upset by any misinterpretations of our meaning”.
She said she did not suggest that the sultanah was “in a conspiracy” with Jho Low, or that the sultanah was in any way connected to the Terengganu Investment Authority (TIA), the precursor to 1MDB.
“We note that the connection between Jho Low and the Terengganu royal family was in fact far closer to the sister of the sultan, with whom Jho was directly connected in a business sense, and her husband.”
The sultanah yesterday had shot down that statement as not being an “adequate” apology.
“The apology, in our view, is not an apology. It cannot be an apology. It’s simple. The arrow has left the bow,” Haaziq told a press conference in Petaling Jaya today.
Terengganu palace royal comptroller Mohd Azmi Mohamad Daham and four other lawyers were present.
“That is not the terms of our demand. And I wish to state that this so-called apology only came about after we initiated the demand.
“It is not an unequivocal apology. If you look at it, it’s a bit qualified – that if you feel hurt or if you misinterpreted it, I’m sorry. That is not how defamation law works,” he said.
Haaziq said should the apologies not be forthcoming, legal action would commence in Malaysia, where the book was printed and distributed.
He added that the sultanah had never met Jho Low or supported him in securing an advisory role at TIA., nor had she ever interfered with government affairs or been involved in TIA or 1MDB’s.
Haaziq said she was “extremely distressed” and “upset” when she came across the offending passage after which the palace instructed Mohd Azmi to lodge a police report on Sept 14.
“These were malicious statements that were not verified,” Haaziq added.
“If they comply with the demand, then we will not (sue). We only want mitigation for her Royal Highness, the sultanah of Terengganu.” – September 29, 2018.
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