Whistleblower claims ‘fair and neutral reportage’ in articles on Azam

[superadmin]

KUALA LUMPUR: A journalist facing a lawsuit by Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief Azam Baki for publishing alleged defamatory articles on his shareholding is relying on all available defence to rebut the case.

Lalitha Kunaratnam said the disputed words, in their proper context and natural and ordinary meaning, were not defamatory as set out in Azam’s statement of claim.

If these words were defamatory, she said, then she would rely on the defence of neutral reportage, qualified privilege, “Reynolds privilege”, fair comment, justification and several provisions in the Defamation Act.

Lalitha, who filed her statement of defence through Messrs Ibrahim & Fuaadah yesterday, said the articles, published on the Independent News Service (INS) portal, were a result of fair and neutral reportage of her research.

“The essence of neutral reportage is the publication of the information in the public interest,” she said.

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