The High Court in Kuala Lumpur today struck out the suit filed by Malay rights group Perkasa against Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Joseph Kurup.

Justice Hue Siew Kheng said Perkasa as an organisation had no locus standii  (legal standing)to file the suit.

She also ruled the words used by the minister was not defamatory.

“The plaintiff has no locus standii as it is a registered society. The suit has to be filed by the office-bearers or public officer and not the organisation.

“Perkasa has no legal personality and therefore not capable of being defamed.

“The two publications cited do not refer to the organisation and the entire suit is misconceived

The court ordered Perkasa to pay RM10,000 costs to Kurup ( photo ). The decision was made in chambers.

Lawyer Adenan Seman, who represented Perkasa, told reporters that his client conceded and he has received instructions not to proceed with the suit.

Senior federal counsel Alice Loke repr‎esented Kurup.

Perkasa 'extremist' claim

Perkasa had filed the suit on Jan 28 but withdrew it on March 11 but re-filed it again the same day.

The group claimed the minister had defamed them by referring them as an 'extremist group'.

Perkasa’s statement of claim alleged that Kurup meant to say that the organisation used religion to provoke violence and as such, it should not be allowed to exist in the country.

They further claimed the words used by Kurup implied that Perkasa was against the values enshrined by the country’s constitution and that it had caused fear as well as disunity amongst the people.