Nizar denies intention to criticise Sultan over 'WWW1'

Former Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin told the High Court here today that he had never tweeted that the Sultan of Johor had misused public funds to bid for the WWW1 registration number plate, as reported by TV3 in its Buletin Utama news programme on May 30.

During cross-examination by counsel for defendant Sistem Televisyen Malaysia Berhad, Liew Teck Huat, Mohammad Nizar said that he had issued a press statement intending to clear the air over his tweets after Tengku Mahkota Johor responded through the media that no public money or government allocation to the royal family was used for the bid.

"I just stated my view on the matter as a layman and politician. I never intended to criticise the Sultan. Even if any other individual had paid RM520,000 to secure the number plate, my view will still be the same," he said.

Mohammad Nizar was testifying in his RM50mil defamation suit against the television station pertaining to his tweets on the WWW1 registration plate that was awarded to the Sultan of Johor.

However, the Bukit Gantang Member of Parliament agreed with Liew's contention that his tweet was in response to media reports that the Sultan of Johor had succeeded in his bid for the number plate and the public was well aware who had won the bid.

Mohammad Nizar, 55, also acknowledged that he was not aware that the RM520,000 was the Sultan's own money and had nothing to do with the public or allowances received from the government.

He said he had also sent a letter to the Sultan seeking an apology on the matter, for any ill-feeling or discomfort he may have caused the royal household or people of Johor.

On July 10 last year, Mohammad Nizar filed two suits against Utusan Melayu and TV3. He named Sistem Televisyen Malaysia Berhad and its producer Rohani Ngah as the first and second defendants respectively.

In his statement of claim, Mohammad Nizar stated that on May 28 he issued a statement on the vehicle number plate through his Twitter account and on May 30, TV3 had aired the content of that statement in its Main News Bulletin at 8pm.

Mohammad Nizar claimed that the alleged defamatory statement had tarnished his image and could be interpreted to mean he was a traitor to the Malay rulers, especially the Sultan of Johor, a politician who was anti-royalty and who instigated the people to hate the Sultan of Johor.

Meanwhile, witness for first defendant, Datuk Mohd Ashraf Abdullah, who is also the deputy group managing editor of Media Prima Berhad testified that the bidding of the WWW1 registration number was a "hot" topic at the time and concluded the matter was newsworthy and deserved coverage.

He said the news item not only contained facts stated in the plaintiff's (Mohammad Nizar) tweets but also an interview with the Johor police chief who had confirmed that a special task force had been set up to investigate the allegations by the plaintiff and eight police reports from the public on the matter.

Mohd Ashraf said the TV station had practised responsible journalism at all times, including the news story broadcast on May 30 last year, which ended with the plaintiff's apology that his tweets were not at all aimed at doubting the Sultan's decision to participate in the bid.

"The plaintiff initially issued three tweets relating to this issue on his twitter account. This was reported accurately and taken direct from the source," said Mohd Ashraf.

The hearing before justice Datuk Yeoh Wee Siam resumes on Friday.