Najib, Rosmah sue opposition leader for fuel subsidy remark

KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysian opposition lawmaker Rafizi Ramli has been sued for defamation by Prime Minister Najib Razak and his wife Rosmah Mansor for a speech about the removal of fuel subsidies.

In the suit, Mr Najib said that Rafizi’s remarks at a forum in the capital in November last year implied he had unlawfully stolen public funds in connection with Putrajaya’s removal of oil subsidies.

Ms Rosmah said that Rafizi’s words implied she unlawfully benefited from the public funds allegedly stolen by her husband.

In an immediate response, Rafizi, Secretary-General of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), vowed to vigorously fight the suit against him in court even though he said his lawyers have yet to be served with the writ.

“I am excited to defend my statement in court. … My lawyers are also excited as they can cross-examine Datuk Seri Najib and Datin Seri Rosmah in court, just as Malaysians are eagerly anticipating it,” he said in a statement.

“I believe this is an attempt to scare Pakatan Rakyat leaders from raising issues that concern the people,” he added, referring to the three-party opposition pact that includes PKR. “I will continue to voice out matters of public interest and will not be intimidated.”

The suit was filed at the Kuala Lumpur High Court registry yesterday by Messrs Hafarizam Wan & Aisha Mubarak, the solicitors for Mr Najib and Ms Rosmah. Also named as a defendant in the suit is Chan Chee Kong, owner of the Mediarakyat portal.

The Prime Minister and his wife claimed that Rafizi’s speech in a video titled “Kenapa kita pertahan subsidi minyak” (Why we defend petrol subsidies) was recorded by Mediarakyat and uploaded on YouTube. The video is also on Rafizi’s Facebook page.

Mr Najib and Ms Rosmah said Rafizi’s speech, which was reproduced in the video, was clearly intended to defame them.

“The defendants knew that any publication will bring irreparable damage to us and lower our reputation in the minds of the public,” the statement of claim said.

Mr Najib and Ms Rosmah are demanding damages deemed fit by the court and a public apology to be published in newspapers and magazines.

They have also filed an injunction to prevent Rafizi from further publishing the video pending the outcome of the suit and demanded that Chan remove the video from YouTube, Mediarakyat and Facebook.