Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng today insisted that Umno-controlled Malay daily Berita Harian published a "false" report on Aug 20 last year related to his defamation suit against then Penang Umno chief Shaik Hussein Mydin.

He rejected an errata published by the Malay daily on Dec 18, which the DAP secretary-general said did not comply with his request for amendment.

The amendment Lim wants includes Shaik Hussein retracting his statement that the CM was corrupt, that the Bagan Umno chief apologised to Lim and that the apology was the basis for the CM withdrawing his case against the Umno leader.

Lim is suing News Straits Times Press Bhd, in which Berita Harian is a subsidiary.

At the High Court in Penang today, Lim said the article by reporter Siti Sofea Md Nasir did not publish in full the consent judgment of the case released on Aug 19.

"I feel betrayed as though I have done wrong. Shaik Hussein had withdrawn his statement that I am corrupt and had apologised to me twice in chambers".

Lim admitted that the apology was not recorded in the consent judgment as it was done in private, in front of judge Nordin Hassan.

On Aug 19, Shaik Hussein had apologised to Lim twice in chambers for accusing the CM of corruption related to the sale of a plot of land in Bayan Mutiara in 2012.

However, Berita Harian's report headlined 'Guan Eng tarik balik saman Shaik Hussein' (Guan Eng withdraws suit against Shaik Hussein) alleged that Lim retracted his suit without conditions, which the latter vehemently denied and found offensive.

During cross examination by Berita Harian's counsel Leong Wai Hong, Lim said "the report is untrue in its entirety".

Lim wants an unconditional apology published in Berita Harian and is also seeking compensation, an amount to be determined by the court, which was presided today by Justice Rosilah Yop.

When questioned by Lim's lawyer Simon Murali, Siti Sofia, who appeared as the defendant's witness today, said she had submitted a nine-paragraph report to her editor on Aug 19.

However, the final copy of the report published on Aug 20 carried only five paragraphs.

To a question by Simon if she was involved in publishing the final copy of the report, Siti Sofia said "No".

To a query by Leong if she had ill intentions to publish a false report against Lim, Siti Sofia replied "No".

She admitted not being present in court when the content judgment was read but said she covered the press conference by Shaik Hussein outside the court.

Rosilah adjourned the case to Dec 23 for submission of documents and fixed Jan 18 for decision.