lynas withdraws suit after fmt apologises

27 July 2012 | last updated at 12:47PM
Lynas withdraws suit after MToday apologises


KUALA LUMPUR: Lynas Corporation Limited and Lynas Malaysia Sdn Bhd today withdrew their suit after MToday News Sdn Bhd, operator of the online news portal 'Free Malaysia Today' (FMT), apologised to Lynas over an allegedly defamatory article published on its website.

The parties recorded the settlement of the suit in chambers before High Court Judge Datuk Nor Bee Ariffin.

MToday's counsel, Rueben Mathiavaranam, told reporters that as part of terms of the settlement, Lynas withdrew the suit and the defendant gave the undertaking not to publish any more anti-Lynas statements.

"As part of the settlement, the court also made no order as to costs and no damages to be payable, and for three offending articles also to be removed from the FMT (website)," he said.

On July 17, MToday posted an apology on its website, www.freemalaysiatoday.com, over the published articles which claimed that the Lynas plant might be unsafe for the public.

"We apologise for these publications as such claims do not have a scientific basis. The regulatory review of the Lynas plant has been thorough and diligent," it said.

On April 19, Lynas Corporation of Sydney, Australia, and Lynas Malaysia filed the suit against MToday News over an allegedly defamatory article published on its website on March 6.

Lynas sought general and aggravated damages, costs and an injunction restraining the defendant from publishing further defamatory articles on Lynas.

Counsel Rishwant Singh represented Lynas. -- BERNAMA