Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has filed a defamation suit against DAP's Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua over Pua's speech against the controversial 1Malaysia Development Bhd.

It is understood that this is the first time a serving prime minister has sued a lawmaker.

The suit was filed with the registrar of the High Court in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. Najib is represented by the law firm of Hafarizam, Wan Aisha and Mubarak.

The suit is in relation to a speech made by Pua ( left ) at a party fund-raising dinner last November. Also named as a defendant in the suit is Chan Chee Kong, who owns the Mediarakyat.net portal.

The speech was recorded in video titled "Tony Pua: Najib is creating the biggest scandal ever in the history of Malaysia".

Najib's lawyer Mohd Hafarizam Harun, when contacted, confirmed that the suit had been filed but declined to divulge details.

Almost 200,000 video views

In the statement of claim sighted by Malaysiakini , Najib claims that the video recording and Pua's speech implied that Najib had stolen or is going to continue to steal the people's money with regard to the 1MDB project.

It also meant that the PM, as chairperson of 1MDB's advisory board, had abused his powers for personal gain, and hence had betrayed the public.

Najib claimed that the speech made by Pua also meant that he is untrustworthy and unfit to hold public office.

The claim further stated that the video, which was uploaded on YouTube , had close to 195,000 views as of March 2 this year.

Najib further claimed that Chan had practised irresponsible journalism and that such slander had extensively damaged his reputation.

The PM is seeking exemplary, aggravated and general damages. He is also seeking an injunction to stop the defendants from repeating and publishing such slanderous and libellous statements.

Najib is further seeking an apology, which is to be published in national newspapers and magazines, and a removal of the said libellous recording. He is further seeking costs and other relief deemed fit by the court.

PM on suing spree

Earlier, it was reported that Najib has sent a letter of demand to Pua, dated Nov 21, seeking an apology from the second-term Petaling Jaya Utara lawmaker.

Previously, Najib has filed a suit against Mkini Dotcom Sdn Bhd - the operator of Malaysiakini - over comments made on two articles by the news portal's readers.

He has also sent letters of demand to PKR vice-president and secretary-general Rafizi Ramli and lately, to PAS and its party organ Harakah , also related to revelations made by the two on 1MDB.

When contacted, Pua declined to comment on grounds that he has yet to receive the notice on Najib's suit.