KUALA LUMPUR, May 24 — Hauled up for its provocative article, Umno-backed Utusan Malaysia published today an apology to Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim for a May 17 article that reportedly put the Selangor mentri besar in the crosshairs of his PKR colleagues.
In a tiny column on the Malay broadsheet today, the daily tendered its apologies for publishing the article headlined, “Khalid Ibrahim dimaki ahli PKR” (Khalid Ibrahim insulted by PKR members).
Citing a PKR member, the newspaper reported the second-term chief of Malaysia’s richest state in the running for the PKR deputy presidency to be a “liar”.
“Utusan Malaysia regrets the publication that had aroused Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim’s uneasiness and sincerely apologises to Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim for the error,” the newspaper wrote.
The Malay daily also promised not to publish similar articles again.
This was not the first time Utusan has published apologies to Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders.
Last year, the daily was forced to issue an apology to DAP’s Gelang Patah MP Lim Kit Siang and his son, Lim Guan Eng — who is also Penang chief minister — over allegations concerning the screening of local film Tanda Putera.
The paper alleged the duo were using the film as a smokescreen for their rude actions as party leaders.
Utusan has also been sued for defamation by PR leaders in recent years, and lost its battles in court.
