PAS mouthpiece Harakah and three of its staff today apologised to International Trade and Industry Minister Mustapa Mohamed over the publication of a report quoting then PAS vice-president Husam Musa.

This is in response to a defamation suit by Mustapa Mohamed against Husam and them regarding an allegedly defamatory article in relation to Felda Global Ventures Holdings (FGVH) Berhad, published on March 23, 2013

The apology was recorded before the High Court in Kuala Lumpur.

"The second to fifth defendants did not intend to offend Mustapa through the article but were merely regurgitating words by Husam.

"The defendants hereby apologise unreservedly to Mustapa for any words in the article that had injured his feelings, dignity and reputation. We are regretful and remorseful that he was injuriously affected by the impugned words in the said article," the statement that was read out in court said.

The apology was read out by Harakah's lawyer Sharifah Asmaa' Syed Azman.

She further read out that there was no foundation to the allegations made and as such expressed regret and unconditionally retracted all the allegations.

Husam, however, did not apologise and the court fixed Jan 27 for hearing before Justice Nor Bee Arifin.

Justice Nor Bee also ordered Harakah to pay RM20,000 costs to Mustapa.

Lawyer Lew Cho Kang appeared for Mustapa while Husam was represented by Mohd Fitri Khalis.

The defendants who apologised were former PAS secretary-general Mustafa Ali, Harakah 's former editor-in-chief Zulkifli Sulong and editor Azmi Yusof.

FGVH shares allegation

Mustapa had alleged that Husam had slandered him during a political speech he made at the Machang Expo site in Kelantan on March 23, 2013.

The minister - who is also Kelantan Umno liason chief - claimed the statement meant he was a corrupt leader and politician and had abused his power for his own and Umno members’ interests.

Mustapa also complained that the publication meant that he had used his status and position to suppress the rights of the poor who had obtained loans from bank to own FGVH shares whereas 400 lots of shares were given freely to Umno politicians.

The article also meant that he was not qualified to hold any public office either as a minister or a member of Parliament.