Kelantan Deputy Menteri Besar Ahmad Yaacob and state exco members Husam Musa and Anuar Tan Abdullah have won their defamation suit against Malay-language paper Mingguan Watan and were awarded RM470,000 each.

NONE The Kota Baru High Court made the ruling yesterday over an article Mingguan Watan (right) published on the front-page of its Dec 21-27, 2008, edition.

The article was entitled ‘Siasat Pemimpin-Pemimpin PAS Kelantan Seleweng Ekuiti PKINK’ (‘Probe Kelantan PAS leaders over misappropriation of PKINK equity).

According to a statement issued late yesterday by Husam, the article said “The Kelantan State Economic Development Corporation (PKINK) incurred tens of millions of ringgit in losses after abuse of power and irregularities by several Kelantan PAS leaders who are also members of the PKINK board of directors.

“The losses totalling RM21 million is believed to have occurred because of abuse of power by the PKINK management in administering and managing company subsidiary Kelstone Sdn Bhd,” the article said further.

Named as defendants were journalist M Goenawan Mohamed, Mingguan Watan ’s chief editor Wan Bahador Wan Ismail @ Baha Azuwan, editorial advisor Raja  Ahmad Zainuddin Raja Omar, its publisher Naluri Teratai Sdn. Bhd, and distributor Tristan Media Distributors.

Husam said that following the article, PKINK chief executive officer Mohd Sabri Abdullah had written to those concerned and gave a 14-day notice demanding an apology.

In its Jan 4-10, 2010, edition, Mingguan Watan said it saw no need to apologise.