Pahang MB files RM15 million suit against Utusan
Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob has filed a RM15 million suit against Umno mouthpiece Utusan Malaysia over an article which allegedly criticised his administration.
According to Awang Selamat, the pseudonym for the paper's collective editorial, Adnan was unhappy with the article entitled "Hebat sangatkah Adnan?" (Is Adnan that great?), published in the Malay daily.
Adnan was allegedly angered by the report that 30,000 foreigners, especially Bangladeshis, have flooded Cameron Highlands.
In his column today in the weekend edition Mingguan Malaysia, Awang Selamat wrote: "This is just to inform, unable to comment as it will be a court case soon.”
Adnan’s lawyer, Manjeet Singh Dhillon, delivered the legal letter dated November 18 to Utusan Malaysia.
On November 9, Utusan Malaysia took Adnan to task for criticising the newspaper.
In the report Awang Selamat had questioned Adnan's capabilities as menteri besar and said he had become complacent to the extent that he could not accept criticism.
“Awang finds it hard to believe that there is a leader who holds the menteri besar position who thinks like that.
"This is the problem when he has been holding the position for far too long and is so entrenched in his comfort zone until he is afraid of his own shadow.
"Worms are portrayed as snakes. He should learn from other menteris besar who adopt a positive approach and use media reports as an opportunity to effectively resolve an issue.
"There are other bigger issues which the menteris besar of other states face but they do not flinch," Awang Selamat said.
The columnist also warned that the time had come for Adnan, who has been menteri besar since 1999, to step down from his position.
"Although Adnan has contributed to Pahang, there are many who feel the state has not achieved much since he took over in 1999.
"There is no 'wow' factor which the rakyat of Pahang can take pride in," said Awang Selamat.
"There are weaknesses and leakage in his administration, which have become the talk of town."
Adnan and Pahang came under the spotlight following a mudslide on November 5 in Cameron Highlands which claimed five lives.
Utusan Malaysia had also reported how district land officers in the state allegedly accepted RM10,000 per acre in return for closing an eye to illegal land clearing.
The November 5 mudslide provoked an angry rebuke from the Sultan of Pahang.
Sultan Ahmad Shah hit out at reports claiming that “yellow letters” from palace insiders had paved the way for illegal land clearing in Cameron Highlands.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak yesterday announced that soldiers and police would be deployed in Cameron Highlands for patrols. – November 23, 2014.
