As the deadline for Umno-owned daily Utusan Malaysia to apologise lapsed yesterday, a lawyer representing Pahang Menteri Besar Adnan Yaakob said he had received instructions to file the RM15 million writ.

 

Senior lawyer Manjeet Singh Dhillon, when contacted by Malaysiakini, confirmed no apology had been received from the daily.

 

“I have received instructions to file the writ (of summons) in the next few days,” said Manjeet.

 

It was earlier reported that Manjeet had send a letter of demand to Utusan two weeks ago accusing the Umno-owned daily of acting in “retaliatory malice” following the Pahang menteri besar's comments over the fatal mud flood in Cameron Highlands in Awang Selamat's column 'Hebat Sangatkah Adnan?' (Is Adnan that great?).

 

Adnan sought Utusan to publish a front-page apology for suggesting that Adnan had overstayed his presence as menteri besar. Adnan has been Pahang MB for 15 years since 1999, making him the longest-serving Umno menteri besar.

 

The Pahang MB complained the article had brought him adverse imputations resulting in public odium, ridicule and hate.

 

Adnan bemoaned the words in the article meant that he lacks integrity, is an MB who failed in his duties, a maligner who has overstayed his position as MB, an MB who outlived his usefulness, and a person who is brash, arrogant and rejects any form of criticism.

 

Adnan also said that the article meant that he is a person who uses his political position to abuse the media, an MB who has generally a bad behaviour and a liability to the political party he belonged to, an MB who has done very little to improve his state and an MB who is unpopular in Pahang.

 

The Umno supreme council member had sought an apology from the newspaper within 14 days.

 

While opposition politicians have filed a spate of lawsuits against Utusan , with some emerging victorious in court, it is rare for an Umno leader to sue a newspaper owned by his own party.