KUALA LUMPUR: Unfazed by Datuk Ibrahim Ali’s defamation suit against him, unity minister Tan Sri Joseph Kurup said yesterday that he must have done “something right” to have ruffled the feathers of the controversial Malay rights leader.
In a statement here, Kurup said he is prepared to face his foe in court to “defend Malaysia’s unity”.
“I must have done something right for Ibrahim Ali to sue me. I will do whatever is necessary to defend Malaysia’s unity and am prepared to face Ibrahim Ali or anybody else in our courts.
“Truth and justice will always prevail,” the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department declared.
Explaining further, Kurup pointed out that as the minister in charge of national unity, he had taken the stand not to tolerate racial and religious bigotry.
As such, he said it is his responsibility and mission to stop extremist behaviour.
Describing peace and stability as part of Malaysia’s “national treasures”, Kurup said the government’s failure to preserve unity would result not just in the destruction of the country’s social fabric, but its economy and development.
“It is vital that we continue to consolidate our national unity, in order to make certain the continuity of Malaysia’s development and to enable our vision to attain high income nation status by 2020 is achievable,” he said.
Earlier yesterday, Ibrahim filed a suit against Kurup in court, accusing the federal minister of defamation when he accused him and his Malay rights group Perkasa of fanning racial tension.
In his suit, Ibrahim claimed that his reputation has been tarnished by Kurup’s description of Perkasa as “bigots” and “extremists” in the latter’s statement last year.
Ibrahim filed the claim for the association through its lawyer Adnan Seman at the High Court civil registry.
In the statement of claim, the Malay rights group alleged that Kurup had repeatedly made slanderous and false statements against them.
This is the second lawsuit that Ibrahim has filed alleging defamation.
He filed a suit against Star Publications (M) Bhd group managing director and chief executive officer Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai on Dec 26 last year.
Ibrahim alleged Wong had defamed him in an article titled A mind-boggling spin and published in Wong’s On the Beat blog on Nov 2, and had been defamed by stating that he should be charged under the Sedition Act for his call for Bibles to be burnt.
Wong has filed an application to strike out the libel suit, saying he was merely making an honest comment.
Wong, who advocates moderation, said the civil suit ought to be struck out as it was scandalous, frivolous and an abuse of the court process.