Husam fails in bid to sue Utusan, ordered to pay costs

Pas vice-president Datuk Husam Musa has not only failed in his bid to sue Utusan Melayu (M) Berhad and two others, has also been ordered to pay RM45,000 in costs.

High Court Judge Datuk Su Geok Yiam made the decision on his defamation suit involving the publication of a report titled 'Husam Resign? Nik Aziz gave a five-day break to calm down', published on Nov 22, 2009, in Mingguan Malaysia, the Sunday edition of Utusan Malaysia.

On Feb 22, 2010, Husam filed the suit naming the company involved, reporter Azran Fitri Rahim and the editor-in-chief of Mingguan Malaysia as the first, second and third defendants.

In his statement of claim, Husam said that all the defendants wrote, edited and published the report with a malicious intent and with the aim of mocking and humiliating him.

He had sought RM10 million in damages.

However, in their statement of defence, the defendants claimed that the words and content of the report did not defame the plaintiff.

The information contained in the report was also of high quality and obtained through official sources, added the defendants.

During the trial, the plaintiff called three witnesses while the defence called five.

Husam was represented by lawyer Dr Zulqarnain Lukman while counsel Mohana Kumar represented the defendants.