KUALA LUMPUR: Activist Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir is suing Pertubuhan Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma)’s 16 office bearers and its committee members for implying that she had been involved in activities of Comango (Coalition of Malaysian NGOs).
Marina has filed the libel suit, saying that Isma falsely caused the publication of defamatory statements against her in an article and pamphlets.
She is applying for an order to force Isma to retract its defamatory statements against her and issue an apology, besides seeking for damages and an injunction to restrain the defendants from further publishing similar statements.
Yesterday, High Court Judicial Commissioner Rosilah Yop ordered the defendants to file their statement of defence by March 10.
Marina’s lawyer Muhammad Faizal Faiz Mohd Hasani and Isma’s counsel Azad Bashir confirmed the details to reporters.
In the suit, Isma was said to have distributed 70,000 pamphlets titled Antara 54 NGO dalam Comango (Among 54 NGOs in Comango) in mosques around Klang Valley, Shah Alam, Putrajaya, Malacca, Kuantan and Kuala Terengganu on Nov 8 last year.
Marina said Isma had also published an article on Nov 8 last year titled Isma edar 70 ribu risalah dedah dalang Comango (Isma distributes 70,000 pamphlets exposing the mastermind of Comango) in its website and with a link to its Facebook page.
Marina has named Isma president Abdullah Zaik Abd Rahman, his deputy Aminuddin Yahaya, vice-presidents Abdul Rahman Mat Dali and Muhammad Fauzi Asmuni, secretary Dr Amirudin Abdul Wahab, treasurer Mohd Khalid Zakaria, women chief Nor Saleha Mohd Salleh, her deputy Norlida Kamarudin and eight exco members as defendants.
In the statement of claim dated Jan 15, Marina, who is Sisters in Islam board member, said the words had implied that she was anti-Islam and had a doubtful character.
She said Isma had made a personal attack against her.
The defendants, she said, had failed to retract their statements, apologise or give an undertaking not to publish similar statements although she had issued a letter dated Nov 19 last year through her lawyers asking them to do so.
She said that Isma, through its letter dated Dec 20 last year, did not admit to defaming her but instead repeated that it would defend its stand over the statements.
