Defamation suit not an attack on press freedom
It is about defending one's reputation, which is a right.
In a recent defamation lawsuit, Salim Fateh Din, a businessman not affiliated with journalism or politics, has accused journalist P Gunasegaram of defamation. According to Ahirudin Attan, a veteran journalist of four decades, this lawsuit should not be viewed as an attack on press freedom. In fact, Attan asserts, a defamation suit can provide a journalist a platform to showcase their reporting and defend their work in a public forum.
He points out that the case against Gunasegaram is not unique, with several journalists being sued by Salim in the past, often resulting in settlements or apologies from the sued parties. Despite the potential financial burden, Attan emphasizes that the defendant still has the right to defend themselves and that the court process provides ample opportunity for this.
Written by urgent.news from Free Malaysia Today's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
