Mazlan, TV3 propose to settle suit by Anwar

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KUALA LUMPUR: Sistem Televisyen Malaysia Bhd (TV3) and Barisan Nasional’s candidate for Permatang Pauh in the 13th General Election, Datuk Dr Mazlan Ismail, have proposed to settle out of court a lawsuit filed against them, and another, by PKR leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Anwar’s lawyer, Sangeet Kaur Deo, when approached by reporters, said the two defendant had submitted the settlement proposal before judicial commissioner Datin Faizah Jamaludin.

“We have extended our counter proposals. The terms are in the process of being settled between the two defendants and us,” he said, adding that the third defendant, Utusan Melayu (M) Bhd, has been advised to take instruction on whether to settle or not.

He said the court fixed this Friday for them to return to record the settlement.

The suit was scheduled for hearing yesterday.

Meanwhile, lawyer Azhar Arman Ali, representing Utusan Melayu, said the discussion on the settlement proposal did not involve his client.

“I have been asked to get instruction from Utusan Melayu on its stand,” he added.

Anwar, who was present in court yesterday, filed the suit on Oct 15, 2015, claiming that the three defendants had implicated him of bribing judges and prosecutors.

He claimed that Mazlan had called for a media conference during which the alleged defamatory words were uttered and then published by TV3 on ‘Buletin Utama’ at 8pm on Aug 2, 2013 and Utusan Melayu in its Utusan Malaysia newspaper Aug 3, 2013.

Anwar claimed that the defendant had made a slanderous and malicious statement against him at a media conference, which could be taken to mean that he was a person without ethics, was corrupt, dishonest and immoral.

Anwar is seeking general, aggravated and exemplary damages and injunction to stop the defendant from repeating or re-publishing the defamatory words.

Mazlan who was the BN candidate lost the Permatang Pauh seat in the 13th General Election held on May 2013. — Bernama