KUALA LUMPUR, April 20 — MediaRakyat, the news portal being sued by Datuk Seri Najib Razak and Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor for defamation, cried injustice today, saying the lawsuit by the prime minister and his wife infringes on press freedom.

Portal owner Chan Chee Kong pointed out that MediaRakyat was merely carrying out its duty when it uploaded the recording of PKR leader Rafizi Ramli’s allegedly defamatory speech at a forum last November.

“Datuk Seri Najib is unfair and unjust for victimising MediaRakyat for telecasting or streaming a speech or comment by a person of public interest.

“If you have an issue with what someone said, take it up with that person, not the person who holds the camera,” Chan said.

The portal owner then offered Najib free airtime to reply to the allegations through its online channels, saying this is part of its commitment to provide fair news to its viewers.

Both MediaRakyat and Rafizi are being sued by Najib and Rosmah over alleged defamatory remarks uttered by the PKR politician in his speech on the government’s removal of oil subsidies during the Bandar Tun Razak forum.

During the speech, which was subsequently uploaded by Chan onto MediaRakyat’s website, Facebook page and YouTube channel, Rafizi reportedly criticised Putrajaya’s removal of oil subsidies and uttered a joke about Rosmah.

MediaRakyat’s video of the speech online was entitled, “Rafizi: kenapa kita pertahan subsidi minyak” (Rafizi: Why we are defending the fuel subsidy).

Chan, however, maintained today that his portal was merely reporting news that he said viewers may not get through the traditional media.

“We are committed to i​improve the freedom of information in Malaysia,” he said.

“Suing MediaRakyat is therefore an infringement to the freedom of the press in Malaysia. There can be no democracy without a free press.”

He added that MediaRakyat will engage solicitors to take appropriate action to defend the portal’s right to free press.