Several main newspapers have opted not to highlight former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's lawsuit against Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, choosing instead to focus on responses from the ruling party to the lawsuit.

Among those who have decided to focus on the responses to the lawsuit include the New Straits Times ( NST ), Berita Harian , and national news agency Bernama .

The responses they published were from Communications and Multimedia Minister Salleh Said Keruak, Deputy Home Minister Nur Jazlan Mohamed, and Umno information chief Annuar Musa.

Berita Harian had a story in their papers today which compiled the responses from the three politicians, and only explained the lawsuit towards the end of the article.

Meanwhile, Bernama had reported Salleh describing Mahathir’s lawsuit as an act of desperation and Annuar saying it shows the former premier had failed to topple Najib via political means.

NST , however, focused on Nur Jazlan, who said Mahathir has no locus standi to sue the prime minister.

Most other newspapers did have at least a short story on Mahathir filing a lawsuit against Najib, including the Chinese press.

Even Umno mouthpiece Utusan Malaysia had a small article on the lawsuit, placed below the article containing the responses to the lawsuit.

Yesterday, Mahathir and two others filed a legal suit against Najib for breach of fiduciary duty and misfeasance in public office.

Besides Mahathir, the other plaintiffs are former Langkawi Wanita Umno member Anina Saadudin, and former Batu Kawan Umno division vice-chairperson Khairuddin Abu Hassan.

Najib is named as the sole defendant in the claim.

Misfeasance is a term used in tort law to describe an act that is legal but performed improperly.

Part of what they are seeking are RM2.6 billion in exemplary damages and aggravated damages of RM42 million.