Raja Petra and editors to pay RM7mil for libel

The Star today Thursday March 27 2008 reports:


ALOR STAR: A High Court here has ordered blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin, the group chief editor and editor of PKR’s organ Suara Keadilan to pay a total of RM7mil to Universiti Utara Malaysia and its vice-chancellor Tan Sri Dr Nordin Kardi for libel.

High Court deputy registrar Priscilla Gengadaran made the order yesterday following a judgment in default she handed down on Feb 26 after the three had failed to file their defence within the required period.

She ordered the damages to be paid to the plaintiffs for claiming that Dr Nordin was a plagiarist on the Malaysia Today website and in the 98th edition of Suara Keadilan in November 2006.

Nordin and UUM had filed a lawsuit against Raja Petra, PKR, Suara Keadilan group chief editor and the editor. Only PKR had submitted its defence.

Priscilla ordered Raja Petra to pay RM2mil to Dr Nordin and UUM respectively. She also ordered each of the editors to pay RM1mil and RM500,000 to Dr Nordin and UUM respectively.

Dr Nordin told a press conference yesterday that the judgment showed that there was room for the public to take action against bloggers who made slanderous remarks.

“Politicians and artistes who are the usual targets should take action to ensure bloggers do not make libellous statements,” he said.

Dr Nordin said that if the defendants paid up, he would use the money for the benefit of UUM.

My comment:
The pen is mightier than the gun!
However those who write, must be responsible to make sure what he writes is evidence base.Not libel!
Mass media, commentators, journalists and bloggers should not unthinkingly toss poison and dirt into the internet pool. What they write may be juicy, tasty with a bias twist. Yes, they can mock and debase a political leader. This is irresponsible.
Errant journalists, publishers, bloggers should be taken to court for libel.
Many a time, there is a tendency for anyone writer to boost his popularity by whipping up public controversy and political intrigue.
Anyone can choose to simply eat but not simply write!