Malaysian daily hit with $5m suit

Malaysian daily hit with $5m suit

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysia's opposition leader Lim Kit Siang said on Thursday he would file $5 million defamation lawsuit against a leading Malay-language daily.

Lim said Utusan Malaysia's connection with the ruling United Malays National Organization (UMNO) was well-known. Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad is the president of UMNO.

"Alleging that I am not patriotic, Utusan Malaysia has not only made a most defamatory statement against me but is indulging in the most irresponsible form of journalism in the run-up to the general election," he said.

Lim, secretary-general of the Democratic Action Party, said his suit against Utusan Malaysia was aimed at redeeming his reputation.