The writer of an Utusan Malaysia front-page article titled ‘Mohamad Sabu insults fighter, regards communist terrorist as real hero in Bukit Kepong’ told the High Court in George Town today that he had no malice or wanted to sensationalise the issue by writing the article.

Mohd Asron Mustapha, an executive journalist with the newspaper, said he was only reporting what was stated by PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu in his ceramah (talk) at Padang Menora, Tasek Gelugor, near George Town on Aug 21, 2011.

“Firstly, I listened carefully to the plaintiff’s speech and then fully transcribed it to avoid any error. Then, I referred to the historical facts to understand the context of Mat Sabu’s speech on the Bukit Kepong issue.

“Before writing the article, I tried to contact the plaintiff to seek clarification on his statement. But when I introduced myself as an Utusan Malaysia reporter, the plaintiff said he was not prepared yet to give a statement to Utusan Malaysia .

“After that, I wrote the article without any padding-up, malice or trying to sensationalise it... I was merely reporting what was said by the plaintiff at the time,” he said before the judge, Zakaria Sam.

Mohd Asron was replying to a question from counsel Firoz Hussein Ahmad Jamaluddin, who appeared for Utusan Melayu (M) Bhd, at the hearing of the defamation suit by Mohamad against the newspaper and its group editor-in-chief Aziz Ishak.

Mohamad, better known as Mat Sabu, has named Utusan Melayu and Aziz as defendants in the suit.

In his statement of claim, Mat Sabu claimed that the defendants had a malicious intention by publishing three defamatory articles on the communist insurgents’ attack on the Bukit Kepong police station (on Feb 23, 1950 during the Malayan Emergency Period).

He claimed that the articles portrayed him as a communist supporter by recognising Mat Indera as a hero and that he was unIslamic.

Questioned by counsel Mohamad Hanipa Maidin, who represented Mat Sabu, whether the article was written to attack the PAS leader and to achieve the agenda of his political enemies, Mohd Asron said he disagreed with the contention.

Judge Zakaria then fixed March 19 for case management.

- Bernama