Bukit Gelugor MP Karpal Singh today lodged a police report against a senior editor for insinuating that the former had distributed sex video involving a former deputy speaker of the Dewan Rakyat.

In his police report, Karpal ( in wheelchair ) wants NST senior editor Azmi Anshar charged with criminal defamation and publishing false news in the latter’s article titled Karpal’s political chicanery exposed again on June 14.  

NONE "I have not at any time distributed any explicit sex video of any former Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker or for that matter any sex video," he told reporters outside the Tun HS Lee police station, Kuala Lumpur.

“Making an allegation like this is a very serious matter. Distribution of pornographic material is a serious offence under section 5 of the Film Censorship Act 2002,” he said.

In the article, Azmi described Karpal as the “savviest political double-dealer” and recalled several actions taken by Karpal in the past.

One of them include “distributing an explicit sex video of a certain former Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker and then being indignant when another sex video of his client was being distributed”.

In 1989 during a Dewan Rakyat session, Karpal had named the then deputy speaker concerned as the individual in a widely circulated sex tape and wanted him to step down.

NONE The tapes began circulating after 11 tapes were stolen from a safe during a robbery at the individual’s house.

In a controversial move, then attorney-general Abu Talib Othman ordered the destruction of the 11 tapes after four robbery suspects were apprehended.

Karpal said he had issued a statement two days ago demanding that Azmi furnish proof to back the allegation.

“If he fails to do so, he has to face me in court. As simple as that. I will sue him and NST,” he said.

Another option for Azmi, said Karpal, is to publish an apology in NST as prominent as the article and compensate his damages.

The DAP chairperson denied this was a threat to press freedom.

“We are all for press freedom but there must be a limit. If you charge someone with baseless allegations, you must pay the consequences,” he said.

“As politicians, we are prepared to accept criticism. There is no problem with that. If you have evidence, do it, expose it and lodge a police report but don’t lie. You can’t do that.”

He also added that he will write to attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail demanding Azmi and NST to be charged with publishing false news under section 8A of the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984.

“NST has gone down to the level of unacceptable and irresponsible journalism.”

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