Yayasan Basmi Kemiskinan (YBK) and two others today filed a defamation suit against Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim and state executive councillor Yaakob Sapari over statements they made at a media conference last February.

The two other plaintiffs named in the suit, filed at the Shah Alam High Court registry, are YBK's subsidiary YBK Sdn Bhd  and its chairman Zainal Abidin Sakom.

In the statement of claim, the plaintiffs stated that Abdul Khalid had issued a statement at a media conference last Feb 24 and that it was published by the Suara Keadilan newspaper in a report, titled 'Zainal Sakom Gadai Tanah YBK' (Zainal Sakom mortgaged YBK's land).

Following that the plaintiffs claimed Yaakob issued a statement describing Zainal Sakom's action as a betrayal and a report on that was also published by the newspaper.

The plaintiffs also claimed that last April 5, a website, http://tvselangor.com posted an article with the title 'Kemelut YBK: MB Marah Orang Melayu Tipu Melayu' (YBK Controversy: MB angry Malays cheat Malays) which contained statements issued by Abdul Khalid.

The plaintiffs claimed the allegations contained in the report, among others meant that they were untrustworthy, failed to manage properties that had been entrusted upon them with transparency and responsibly, as well as having pressured the poor Malays.

They claimed that the allegations were baseless, false and a slander which damaged their reputation and good name.

Besides seeking general, exemplary and aggravated damages, they plaintiffs also want a court injunction to prevent the defendants from further publishing the defamatory words and other relief deem fit by the court.

- Bernama