Malaysian minister sues Tamil paper for defamation

Malaysia's Human Resources Minister S Subramaniam has slapped a lawsuit on the publisher of a local Tamil daily and a leader of his Malaysian-Indian dominated party for allegedly defaming him by publishing "false" articles.

Malaysia's Human Resources Minister S Subramaniam has slapped a lawsuit on the publisher of a local Tamil daily and a leader of his Malaysian-Indian dominated party for allegedly defaming him by publishing "false" articles.

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Subramaniam has named Tamil newspaper Makkal Osai's publisher Makkal Osai Sdn Bhd, its printer FKZ Printing Sdn Bhd and its reporter K Devandran as defendants in his suit, along with former Malaysian Indian Congress division chairman V Subramaniam.

Subramanian claimed the defendants had published, printed and or caused the publication or circulation of three "false articles" in the Tamil newspaper on his personal and official capacity with malicious intent, Star online reported on Monday.

The minister who is also MIC vice-president contended that the articles published by the newspaper this year implied that he was not a qualified leader, was a hypocrite, and an untrustworthy politician, Star said.

Subramaniam said the words in the articles also meant that he was a fraud for allegedly giving a statement that there were no problems in MIC.

Besides that, he said, the article implied that he was an inexperienced politician who did not have grassroot support.

He claimed that the defamatory articles had been circulated nationwide and read by thousands of people, including party members and that his good name, reputation and character had been tarnished as a result.

The paper said he was applying to the High Court for an injunction to stop the defendants through their agents or individuals from allegedly further publishing defamatory words against him.

Apart from that, he is seeking to get general damages, costs and further relief deemed fit by the court.