Kuala Terengganu PKR lodges police report against Sinar Harian

Summary

• Kuala Terengganu PKR alleges that Sinar Harian’s erroneous infographic on new IGP is defamatory.

• Division deputy president Wan Ismail Wan Long calls for legal action, rejecting a mere apology as insufficient.

Kuala Terengganu PKR has lodged a police report against Sinar Harian for publishing an infographic that falsely claimed newly appointed Inspector-General of Police Khalid Ismail is a party member.

The division's deputy president Wan Ismail Wan Long filed the report at the Kuala Terengganu police station yesterday morning.

"Kuala Terengganu PKR urges the police to open an investigation paper against Sinar Harian related to malicious defamation against the new IGP, linking him to being a member of the PKR central leadership committee and the Kedah PKR chairperson," he said in a statement.

He claimed all four elements of defamation exist in this case.

"First, Sinar Harian published a defamatory statement.

"Second, the defamatory statement is directed at the victims, Khalid and PKR.

"Third, the defamatory statement was made to others via Sinar Harian's Instagram.

"And fourth, the defamatory statement was made with the intention to harm or damage the reputation of the IGP, PKR and the government," he added.

Kuala Terengganu PKR called for Sinar Harian to be brought to justice, with Wan Ismail saying that whichever court decides on the matter must ensure the Malay-language daily does not merely issue an apology.

"The culture of slandering first (and) apologising later should be eradicated and should not be made a custom in our society," he added.

Recycling material caused error

Last Friday, Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution announced Khalid’s appointment as the new IGP for a two-year term, starting June 23.

In publishing the news, Sinar Harian listed Khalid’s "awards" as being a PKR central leadership committee member, the Kedah PKR chairperson, and a former Sungai Petani Umno committee member in an infographic.

The Malay daily has since suspended the staff involved in the error, including the social media supervisor who approved the infographic.

It explained that the mistake was caused by reusing the graphic on Johari Abdul's profile when he was appointed as the Dewan Rakyat speaker.

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