Zahid Hamidi withdraws suit after Rafizi removes 'wrongful statements' from blog

Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today withdrew a defamation suit he had brought against Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) strategic director Mohd Rafizi Ramli after the latter agreed to remove from his blog what he admitted to be wrongful statements. Mohd Rafizi read out a statement in the High Court, saying that Ahmad Zahid had not abused his powers (when he was the defence minister) in any matter and had no role in the decision of transactions to acquire shares and development land. "I am satisfied with the explanation given by plaintiff (Ahmad Zahid), that the plaintiff had not abused his powers in any matter whatsoever and had no role whatsoever in the decision of Boustead Holdings Berhad to enter into transactions to acquire Astacanggih Sdn Bhd's shares and development land from Awan Megah Sdn Bhd as stated in my article dated 29 December 2012. "Therefore, I hereby unequivocally and unconditionally withdraw the wrongful statements in my article with reference to the plaintiff," he said. Lawyer Datuk Saseedharan Menon, representing Ahmad Zahid, told the court that Ahmad Zahid accepted the statement and was withdrawing the defamation suit against Mohd Rafizi. Judicial Commissioner Lee Heng Cheong allowed the application and struck out the suit with no order as to costs. Ahmad Zahid filed the suit on June 25 claiming that Mohd Rafizi had posted the article on his blog, RafiziRamli.com, and that it was false and written with a malicious intent to portray him (Ahmad Zahid) in a negative light. Ahmad Zahid had sought general, special and exemplary damages with a full recall of the article, and an apology in four local dailies.