Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and his wife Rosmah Mansor have settled their defamation suit against Taiping MP Nga Kor Ming.

Under the terms of the settlement, Nga is to post a statement on his Facebook page expressing regret for having implied that Rosmah had chaired a cabinet meeting, and retract the said statement.

The posting is to be published within seven days from today.

Nga’s statement is to read, among others, "I have been made to understand that the picture referred therein was taken in China when the prime minister was making arrangement to return to Malaysia upon learning the passing of Almarhum Sultan Azlan Shah, and as such I express my deepest regret that the picture has been misconstrued and taken out of context.

"As a matter of goodwill, I hereby withdraw the comments attributed to the said picture and I undertake not to publish the same in the future."

The statement was read out in the High Court in Kuala Lumpur today by Nga's lawyer Alex Tan, for the purposes of recording the consent judgment.

The case was presided by Judicial Commissioner Siti Khadijah Syed Hassan Badjenid.

There was no order on cost, and the settlement is to be considered to be the full and final resolution of the matter.

Expression of regret accepted

In turn, Najib’s counsel Hafarizam Harun read out a statement from the prime minister accepting Nga’s expression of regret.

“In view of the sincerity expressed through the deepest regret, willingness to withdraw the comments, and undertaking not to publish the same in the future, the plaintiffs hereby accept the defendant’s statements above,” he said.

In a statement to reporters later, Hafarizam (photo) said the purpose of Najib’s and Rosmah’s lawsuit was not to put Nga in a ‘repulsive situation’, but to protect their reputation.

“Hence, the action was taken against the defendant for the purpose of my clients’ equanimity and vindication.

“The laws of this country accords the freedom of expression, however one must also bear in mind that the freedom is not absolute, as it comes with limitations and exercise of responsibility.

“Where freedom is taken too far ahead of its enshrined purpose, more often than not, the aftermath has always been unsightly and unpleasant,” he said.

Nga had made the Facebook posting on March 29 last year, which is understood to contain a photo depicting Rosmah, together with Najib and several cabinet members seated around a table.

A caption accompanying the photo read, “Who is the real Malaysian prime minister? Answer!”

Najib, in his personal capacity, and Rosmah filed the suit against Nga on June 11, saying that the photo was taken in a hotel in China, not in a cabinet meeting.

Several suits

This is one of several suits filed by Najib against his critics, and the first to be resolved.

The defamation suits initiated by Najib that are still pending include one against Pandan MP Mohd Rafizi Ramli over his statement regarding petrol prices, and one against Malaysiakini over two articles compiled from readers’ comments on the Terengganu Menteri Besar crisis.

He is also suing Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua, former MCA president Ling Liong Sik, and PAS mouthpiece Harakah for their respective allegations regarding 1MDB.

Asked whether these suits would likewise be settled, Hafarizam told reporters, “I don’t know. It goes case-by-case.”

In a statement to the media later, Nga said it is out of the respect for the late Perak Sultan Tuanku Azlan Shah and as a matter of goodwill, he had instructed my lawyer to settle the matter with Najib and Rosmah.

The settlement is based on the basis that no apology is required and also there is no order as to costs, added Nga.