Constitutional law expert Abdul Aziz Bari's suit against former Kulim Bandar Baru MP and Perkasa leader Zulkifli Noordin and Utusan Malaysia was settled in the Kuala Lumpur High Court today.

Thie settlement was reached after Utusan said it would retract the offending article and publish an apology to Abdul Aziz.

NONEAbdul Aziz’s lawyer Mohd Hanipa Maidin (on right in picture) said the case has been settled without any admission of liability.

“The defendants have agreed to retract the statements made by the first defendant (Zulkifli), which was published by the third defendant (Utusan) on Oct 18, 2011, against Abdul Aziz.”

The settlement was recorded before Justice Yeoh Wee Siam, but the terms were not disclosed.

Abdul Aziz had sought general, exemplary and aggravated damages, costs, and an apology and a retraction of the statements by the defendants.

Zulkifli had said that Abdul Aziz was rude, an uncouth individual and displayed conduct unbecoming of a law professor when he made a statement about the Selangor sultan.

Abdul Aziz was commenting on the sultan’s decree on the search by the Selangor Islamic Affairs Department at the Damansara Utama Methodist Church in Petaling Jaya in August 2011.

The constitutional law expert had said the Selangor sultan has a right to intervene but it had to be in line with Islam.

Subsequently, he was also probed under the Sedition Act but was never charged.

Abdul Aziz was also questioned by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission.

He later defended his statement, stating that the sultan is not immune to criticism so long as there was no insult and or call for the abolition of the royal institution.

Zulkifli was represented by Hasnal Rezua Merican, while Utusan and its group editor Abdul Aziz Ishak were represented by B Mohana Kumar.