Ex-Melaka CM fails in libel suit against DAP MP, portal
The High Court here has dismissed a lawsuit filed by former Melaka chief minister Rahim Thamby Chik against DAP’s Ipoh Timor MP Howard Lee and Malaysiakini over a 2018 commentary written by Lee.
Justice Roz Mawar Rozain held that Rahim had failed to prove the case against them on a balance of probabilities.
The court held that Lee and Malaysiakini, the defendants in the suit, had succeeded in raising their defences of justification, fair comment, and neutral reportage.
“The publication construed an opinion (piece) and not mere fact, and the title indicated it was a commentary,” Roz Mawar said.
She said the court had looked into various “historical events” leading to Lee’s opinion piece on Dec 18, 2018.
In Lee’s opinion piece, titled “Khianat jika Rahim diterima masuk Bersatu – Pemuda DAP” (A betrayal…
