Editor quits over apology

Editor quits over apology

MALAYSIA: The editor of a Malaysian newspaper has resigned after
disputing upper management's decision to publish an apology for
running a story about an alleged assassination plot targeting
Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and his deputy.

Mahathir has said that he had never been informed of such a
plot, reported by The Sun newspaper Christmas Day, and said that
such reports could hurt the economy if Malaysia is perceived as
rife with terrorism. He said that the newspaper should have
informed police.

On Thursday, The Sun published a front-page apology to
Mahathir and his deputy, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. It said that
further scrutiny showed that the story had been based on
unfounded allegations and should never have been published.

Sun editor Andy Ng told The Associated Press on Friday that he
has resigned over the apology and the decision to suspend an
editor and two journalists who had worked on the story. He said
that he had initially offered to resign or be suspended in their
place, but was refused. -- AP