PLANTATION and Commodities Minister Khairuddin Aman Razali is suing Chinese newspaper Sin Chew Daily and holding company, Sin Chew Media Corp, for defamation after using his personal photo of a trip to the Netherlands and linking it with his recent trip to Turkey, Kosmo! reports.

He is demanding RM1 million as compensation for the use of a personal photo of him and his wife and claiming that they had holidayed in Turkey while on an official trip in July.

Khairuddin sparked controversy after his return from Turkey on July 7, as he skipped the mandatory 14-day quarantine for all overseas returnees to check for Covid-19.

He is currently under police investigation for the breach.

Sin Chew Daily published the photo in an article on September 1 when reporting on allegations that Khairuddin and family had gone on holiday overseas while Malaysia’s borders are closed for non-essential travel due to the pandemic.

Sin Chew Daily also posted the photo on its Facebook page, which caused it to be shared widely.

Khairuddin’s suit was filed on September 14. – September 18, 2020.