Star Publications (M) Bhd chief executive officer Wong Chun Wai said a libel suit by Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali relating to the latter's call to burn bibles should be struck out.

Wong, who is also Star Publications' group managing director, is named as the first defendant, with Star Publications as the second defendant.

 

He said the case is unsustainable as the defences of justification, fair comment and/or qualified privilege were bound to succeed.

He added that the civil suit dated Dec 26 last year ought to be struck out as it was "scandalous, frivolous and an abuse of the court process".

Wong ( centre ) said the libel action was founded upon the publication of an article entitled "A mind-boggling spin", published in The Star  newspaper on Nov 2 last year.

In his affidavit to support the application, Wong said he was the writer of the article and believed its content was true in substance and not defamatory of Ibrahim.

Ibrahim claimed the words implied that he was a religious extremist, stupid, had belittled Christianity and ought to be arrested and charged under the Sedition Act.

Among others, Ibrahim is seeking general, aggravated and exemplary damages as well as an injunction to restrain the defendants from publishing any statements disparaging and defaming him.

The defendants, however, said Ibrahim had on Jan 19, 2013 urged the burning of the Holy Bible and had even admitted this fact in his claim.

The defendants further said  The Star  had on Oct 29 reported responses and criticism from various quarters, including political parties and church organisations, which had expressed surprise and disappointment over the Attorney-General's Chambers’ decision.

The AGC had, on Oct 27 last year, issued a statement confirming that no further action would be taken against Ibrahim over his call for the burning of the bible.

Therefore, the defendants said they had a legal, social and moral duty to publish the article in response to the AGC’s media statement and its purported justification for not taking action against Ibrahim.

They denied that the words were published falsely or maliciously, and said Ibrahim was not entitled to any damages at all.

The defendants have applied for the suit to be dismissed with costs.