KUALA LUMPUR, April 23 — DAP’s Anthony Loke said today that Pakatan Rakyat assemblymen in Negri Sembilan will consider suing Umno mouthpiece Utusan Malaysia for defamation over its front page today accusing them of disrespecting royalty.
The Malay language daily insinuated that the 13 opposition state assemblymen were rude for not responding when asked to pass the motion of thanks to the royal address during the state assembly yesterday.
“Utusan is playing up every single thing and use the royalty to discredit the opposition.
“We will study whether the report is defamatory and if we find enough grounds, we will take legal action against Utusan,” DAP national organising secretary Anthony Loke told Malay Mail Online.
The Seremban MP and Chennah assemblyman said he will discuss with all 13 assemblymen from DAP and PKR.
Loke added that the royal address was prepared by the state government and it was “normal” in parliamentary practice for the opposition to be silent during the motion of thanks.
“Of course we thank the Yamtuan for his opening address, for officiating the assembly and of course certain advice we take in a positive note, but not all policies laid out by the government we can support.
“One reason we didn’t state support was because the MB announced a new housing policy which impose 50 per cent Bumiputera quota,” he said over the phone.
