SHAH ALAM, 21 Mar: PKR Vice-President, Nurul Izzah Anwar will be taking legal action against the New Straits Times (NST) newspaper following a publication of an article that claims that she insulted the efforts of security personnel in Lahad Datu.
Nurul Izzah described the article entitled “Nurul Izzah Hits Out At Police” is malicious for allegedly distorting her speech at a talk in Jemapoh, Negeri Sembilan on 19 March.
The article was published by NST today.
“The integrity of the responsible journalist is a hallmark of democracy in our country.
“As we go through a crisis that threatens national security, I think that the report, which was inaccurate and deviated, should be withdrawn.
“I demand for New Straits Times to apologise within 24 hours via digital and print media, the way the defamatory article was disseminated,” she said in a statement today.
She also pointed out that the issue that was actually featured in her talk was of the actions of politicians in Putrajaya in handling the problem of security in Lahad Datu, Sabah.
She said that she agreed with Lt Gen (Rtd) Datuk Abdul Ghafir Abdul Hamid wo stated that the intelligence failure in preventing the invasion in Lahad Datu happened because intelligence was more focused on espionage on political developments of the country since year 2000.
She also reiterated Pakatan Rakyat’s consistent stance in urging the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak to hold an emergency Parliamentary session, in addition to the white paper to understand the crisis in Lahad Datu for the sake of national security.
“I wish to state here that I fully support the security forces, especially members of the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) and the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) who at this moment are fighting at the border to defend the country’s sovereignty in the land of Sabah.
“I never insulted the efforts of members of the security who were sacrificed and fulfilled their pledge of allegiance,” she added.