The Malaysian Insight

UTUSAN Malaysia and Pahang Menteri Besar Adnan Yaakob today agreed to an out-of-court settlement for a defamation suit he filed against the newspaper in 2015.

In a settlement order signed by defence and plaintiff lawyers at the Kuala Lumpur High Court, Utusan expressed regret over an article titled “Hebat Sangatkah Adnan?” (Is Adnan that great?), which the menteri besar said had tarnished his reputation.

“We also highly regret if the publication and its content had caused Datuk Seri Diraja Haji Adnan Yaakob difficulty,” said the Umno-owned newspaper, adding that there was no ill intention behind the article.

Utusan is to print a statement on the court settlement in its publication, as well as interview Adnan and run an exclusive article on him and his four terms as head of the state government.

The interview will be published only with Adnan’s consent.

The menteri besar’s legal counsel, Americk Sidhu, said Adnan had sought an apology from Utusan, but agreed to the term “regret” after much persuasion.

Prior to the settlement, both parties had argued over whether to use the word “apology” or “regret”.

Adnan sued the newspaper, whose weekend edition, Mingguan Utusan, on November 9, 2014, carried the offending article.

He claimed that the article implied he had failed in carrying out his duties, and that he had overstayed in his position as menteri besar. – August 7, 2017.