KUALA LUMPUR: Former inspector-general of police (IGP) Hanif Omar made an official apology to Lim Kit Siang today over allegations that the DAP veteran attempted to separate Peninsular Malaysia according to racial lines.
In his apology statement before the court, Hanif retracted his statement made against Lim on Sept 6, 2018 at a forum held at Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) in Shah Alam.
“I confirm that the plaintiff’s (Lim) arrest in 1969 was not on the basis that he called for the country to be divided according to racial lines,” he said before High Court judicial commissioner Quay Chew Soon.
Lim had filed a defamation suit against Hanif in 2018 over the former top cop’s claim that Lim “wanted to split Malaysia along racial lines”, with the west coast for the Chinese and the east coast for the Malays.
He alleged that Hanif’s remarks had ruined his reputation as an MP and a public figure.
In his lawsuit, Lim had sought general, aggravated, and exemplary damages as well as an injunction to prohibit Hanif or any of his agents from repeating or republishing the statements.
Meanwhile, publisher Sinar Karangkraf Sdn Bhd, who was named as co-defendant, also said they will publish an open apology to Lim by this week over their news reports pertaining to Hanif’s false allegations.
Sinar Karangkraf will also have to pay RM20,000 costs to Lim. However, no cost was made against Hanif.
Lim also retracted his statement against Hanif, in which he claimed the ex-IGP created a “cock-and-bull story” over his 1969 detention under the repealed Internal Security Act (ISA).
“I express regret that this unfortunate incident occurred and retract my statement on Sept 7, 2018 against Tun Hanif,” he said.
Hanif had filed a counter-claim against Lim’s remarks previously.
FMT
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