Najib, Rosmah agree to settle suit after DAP MP apologized for his lie

Almost two years of being falsely accused, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his wife finally get the admission they wanted from Taiping MP Nga Kor Ming that his allegation was untrue.

In June last year, Najib in his personal capacity and Rosmah sued Nga over an alleged defamatory Facebook post that accompanied a photograph of the two with Cabinet ministers and senior government officials.

In the Facebook posting titled “Siapa PM M'sia yang Sebenar? Jawab!”, Nga had alluded to the allegation that Rosmah had been chairing a cabinet meeting which has proven to be an outright lie.

The photograph in question which was uploaded on Nga's Facebook on March 29 last year was actually taken in a hotel room in China when Najib was on an official visit and preparing to return to Malaysia after the latter learnt of the late Perak Sultan Azlan Shah's passing.

KL High Court judge Justice Siti Khadijah S. Hassan Badjenid recorded the consent judgment in open court, a local online news portal reports.

In the proceedings this morning, Nga's lawyer Alex Tan Chie Sian, read out a statement for his client, stating that his client expressed his “deepest regret” that a photograph that he had previously posted on Facebook had been “misconstrued and taken out of context”.

He also stated that his client will voluntarily retract the offensive comment and vow never to publish such comments in future.

Najib and Rosmah's lead counsel Datuk Mohd Hafarizam Harun also read out his clients' statement in response to the judgement.

"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 statement."

He also indicated that under the terms of the court judgement, Nga has 7 days to upload his court statement on the MP's FB account and FB page.

"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," Mohd Hafarizam told reporters outside the court.

In response to this morning's events, the latest Facebook posting from the DAP MP did not however appear to be contrite but rather making light of the situation.

"The above settlement is on the basis that no apology whatsoever is required & there is also no order as to cost.

"It is purely out of the respect for the late Sultan of Perak Tuanku Azlan Shah because the picture had been misconstrued.

"Based on the above, the settlement is magnanimous & purely a goodwill. - Thank you," Nga posted shortly after noon today.