Sultanah Nur Zahirah files suit against Clare Rewcastle Brown

PETALING JAYA (Nov 22): The Sultanah Terengganu Sultanah Nur Zahirah has filed a lawsuit against Sarawak Report's founder and editor Clare Rewcastle-Brown and two others for defaming her in the book The Sarawak Report: The Inside Story of the 1MDB Expose.

Datuk Mohd Haaziq Abdullah counsel representing the Terengganu Sultanah, said besides Clare, local publisher Gerakbudaya Enterprise and printer Vinlin Press Sdn Bhd have been named as the defendants.

Mohd Haaziq said his client had decided to proceed with the suit after the parties failed to reach an agreement to resolve the case.

"There was an offer made by the defendants but it was not according to the terms set.  As such the terms of settlement have not been reached," he said, adding that the discussion to resolve the case took almost two months.

He said case management has been set for Dec 19 and further details on the suit could not be disclosed to the media until the case was referred to the court. 

Mohd Haaziq who filed the suit via e-filing system at 2pm said this to reporters in a press conference at his office here yesterday.

Mohd Haaziq also revealed the existence of the book "The Sarawak Report: The Inside Story of the 1MDB Expose" Second Edition, to the media and the existence of the book was only known on Oct 1 after his press conference on Sept 29.

"The second edition differs from the first edition because the first edition of the book states that it involved the wife of the Sultan of Terengganu, Sultanah Nur Zahirah while the second edition states that it involved the younger sister of the Sultan of Terengganu.

"We will bring this up in court," he said, adding that his client was seeking damages in the suit.

Also present at the press conference were lawyers Mohd Hilmi Sarbini and Vishu Kumar, also representing the Terengganu Sultanah.

On Sept 29, a letter of demand was served on the three parties seeking written apology and RM100 million in damages from each of them in relation to defamatory statements in the book “The Sarawak Report:The Inside Story of the 1MDB Expose”.

Clare allegedly made defamatory statements in the book linking the Terengganu Sultanah with Jho Low or his real name Low Taek Jho and the 1MDB scandal.