PAS vice-president Husam Musa has filed a RM6 million suit against two Barisan Nasional state assemblypersons in Kelantan and the New Straits Times Press (NSTP) for allegations made and published in November that he was involved in corruption, mismanagement and abuse of power.

husam musa broga 180707 husam In the suit filed today at the Kuala Lumpur High Court, Husam is also seeking for the retraction of the said statements and apologies. He also wants a court order refraining the defendants from further publishing future similar ‘slander’ pertaining to him.

The two BN state representatives named in the suit are Paloh assemblyman Nozula Mat Diah and Bukut Bunga assemblyman Mohd Adhan Kechik.

“It’s not a matter of money, and the media is not his enemy. Husam has embarked on this suit after being advised by his lawyers to do so,” said one of Husam’s lawyers, Ahmad Shabrimi Mohamed Sidek, when contacted.

Following their six-month suspension by the Kelantan assembly late last year, Nozula and Mohd Adhan lodged a report with the state Anti-Corruption Agency on Nov 27 last year claiming nine cases of mismanagement, corruption, and abuse of power by individuals in the PAS-led government.

In their statements carried the next day by English daily New Straits Times (NST) and the Malay-language Berita Harian - both of which are owned by NSTP - Nozula and Mohd Adhan said the nine cases included alleged mismanagement and abuse of power by Husam.

Among the allegations, they said Husam - who heads the state Public Administration, Finance, Economic Planning and Community Development Committee - had taken money for a certain contract and had protected his ‘cronies’ within state body Air Kelantan despite alleged mismanagement therein.

Nozula and Mohd Adhan had been suspended a few days earlier after they reportedly made ‘disparaging’ statements in the newspapers against Speaker Wan Abdul Rahim Wan Abdullah.

No apologies made

In his statement of claim, Husam said the reports not only said he had abused his power and was a corrupt person, but also implied he was a ‘hypocrite’, a ‘liar’, had enriched himself through wrongful means, and used his position for his own self-interest.

He added that the claims by Nozula and Mohd Adhan were baseless, untrue, slanderous and had damaged his reputation.

“The allegations contained in the statements, reports and articles referring to the plaintiff are seen as being prejudicial to the plaintiff in (the arena of) politics, society, and/or the social relations of the plaintiff and has led to public hatred, disrepute and contempt of his person,” read his statement of claim.

Despite a letter sent to the defendants dated Jan 14, 2008, neither an apology or offering of compensation has been forthcoming, it said further.

Husam seeks RM1 million from Nozula and Mohd Adhan for the slander allegedly committed outside the Kelantan Assembly building on Nov 27 last year and another RM1 million for the statements carried by NST and Berita Harian the next day.

RM1 million is sought from NSTP for the article containing the assemblyperson’s statements entitled ‘ Suspended BN Duo Turn to ACA ’ in addition to RM1 million for a similar report in Berita Harian.

Husam also seeks RM2 million in exemplary and aggravated damages as well as interests and costs.