LETTER | Dear media, please qualify your report

LETTER | Titles can be misleading or maybe the news has to sell.

I would, therefore, like to set the record straight in respect of the apology in the defamation case commenced against me by Dr Zakir Naik.

I apologised to Zakir pursuant to the learned High Court Judge Akhtar Tahir's direction, failing which I may have been cited for contempt.

I did not do it out of my own free will. I believe media reporting has omitted this crucial fact.

The judge did not allow me to consult my lawyers but directed me to offer an apology immediately.

I would also like to make an appeal to the media to report on the entire judgment, where the judge found Zakir’s statement “can cause a threat to multiracial Malaysia, stir religious sentiments and cause tensions amongst us”.

The judge also found the remarks made by Zakir in Kelantan against the Indians and Chinese “can cause a threat to multiracial Malaysia”.

It’s crucial to also include these parts of the judgment so it acts as a check and balance to ensure Zakir doesn’t make similar remarks, especially as we focus on rebuilding Malaysia under the new government.

I would like to reiterate that, as the then-MP, my only objective was to ensure one man doesn’t create divisions amongst us.

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