Perak DAP chairperson Ngeh Koo Ham has initiated legal action against a pro-BN blogger and a Malay language daily who he claims have reported "false news against him and his party comrade Nga Kor Ming.

The alleged false news is related to the recent controversy involving him and Nga related to the Kelantan reforestation project.

NONE In a statement issued today, Ngeh ( left ) said that legal actions have commenced against pisau.net blogger Mohd Jeffrey Amin Abdul Hamid and Berita Harian for allegedly defaming him and Nga.

Ngeh is suing Mohd Jeffrey for his blog posting entitled " Hot! Tanah 10,526 Ekar Sebagai Syarat Nizar Jadi Menteri Besar Perak Adalah Benar " on Dec 17.

Berita Harian is facing legal action for its article s entitled " Hutan Sungai Relai gondol " published on its front page on Dec 27 and a republication of a pisau.net post on the issue.

"Legal notices are being issued to them and legal actions will also be taken against those who are out to defame us," said Ngeh, who is Beruas MP.

Blogger hiding identity

According to Ngeh, pisau.net has "falsely and maliciously"reported that the Kelantan government had awarded him and Nga 10,526 acres of land in exchange for an agreement to appoint PAS leader Nizar Jamaluddin to be Perak menteri besar in 2008.

NONE He claimed that the blogger used a pseudonym ‘Encik Pisau Suka Hiris' for the blog to hide his or her identity.

"I challenge the blogger to come out in the open and not be a coward for BN. His failure to own up is an admission that his/her article is a lie," said Ngeh, who is also Setiawan assemblyperson.

Ngeh alleged that the blogger who published the article about him and the Taiping MP is an executive of Perak's state agency, Yayasan Bina Upaya.

"We did a search and found that he had called the media when reporting the issue to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission . We can see that the false accusation is orchestrated by BN," he added.

Seven days for apology, retraction, compensation

Ngeh also said that other pro-BN media like TV3 , Utusan Malaysia and several blogs have further publicised the alleged false news.

"Our lawyers will be instructed to act accordingly when further evidence have been gathered.

"We can see very clearly the source of the false news was totally unreliable as the writer himself/herself does not dare to own up to what he/she has written," Ngeh said, adding that therefore, the subsequent reports of the said article were also totally unreliable.

He has demanded that in seven days, Mohd Jeffrey and Berita Harian publish a full screen article in the blog and make a prominent announcement in the New Straits Times , New Sunday Times , The Star , Berita Harian and Sinchew Daily withdrawing the contentious article.

He also wants an unconditional apology on terms approved by him and Nga, and that they be paid a suitable sum as compensation for any losses suffered and injuries to their reputation.

Both the blogger and the daily have been cautioned not publish any more articles or photos on the issue.