http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Monday/Frontpage/20050418073304/Article/indexb_html
Indonesian media reports: Malaysia may take legal action Hamidah Atan PUTRAJAYA, Apr 17: Malaysia is considering legal action against the Indonesian media for publishing several "untrue reports and accusations" over the past few weeks. Many of the reports were related to the April 8 incident in which two naval vessels belonging to both countries brushed each other while patrolling the disputed maritime border in the Sulawesi Sea. Especially upsetting to Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was a report in Kompas, an Indonesian newspaper, saying he had apologised to Jakarta for the incident. "There seems to be lots of fabrication, lots of lies by the (Indonesian) media to worsen the situation for their own agenda. "We will see whether we have grounds to sue them," Najib said, adding that he would seek the advice of Attorney-General Tan Sri Gani Patail on the action to be taken. "All this while, Malaysia has been sending official protest notes for any incidents that happened and that can affect bilateral ties. "However, we have never sent any official note protesting the publication of untrue stories about Malaysia or its leaders by the Indonesian Press. "Since the allegation (by Kompas) is totally baseless and mere fabrication, we will definitely consider legal action," said Najib, who is also Defence Minister. He was speaking after presenting prizes to the winners of a "Bowling Fiesta" held for staff of the Deputy Prime Minister's Office at the Alamanda Bowling Alley here. Yesterday, Najib said he was shocked that Kompas had reported that he had made a verbal apology to the Indonesian Defence Attache in Malaysia, Colonel Hartind Hazrin, over the incident in which the Royal Malaysian Navy's patrol vessel KD Renchong and Indonesia's KRI Tendung Naga "brushed" against each other. Najib said in a statement that he had not met the defence attache or discussed the incident with him. He also said there was no reason for him to apologise as the presence of the Malaysian vessel in the area was not an offence because it was within Malaysia's maritime borders. The Defence Ministry's Intelligence director, Datuk Wan Abu Bakar, has also been instructed to ask Hartind for an explanation of the Kompas report as he was named as a source. Malaysians, Najib said, needed to be told about this irresponsible fabrication of stories by the Indonesian media. The Indonesian media has been carrying anti-Malaysia reports following the award of oil concessions by both countries in overlapping areas in the Sulawesi Sea. On April 13, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi dismissed as untrue claims by the Indonesian media that he had telephoned Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono over the ships' collision. He said he did not make any such call. "That is a fact. I called him before but not after the collision," the Prime Minister was quoted as saying. On Friday, the Malaysian and Indonesian navy chiefs met in Batam, Indonesia, and agreed to take measures to prevent a repeat of the incident which led to an exchange of protest notes between Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta. ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Give the gift of life to a sick child. Support St. Jude Children's Research Hospital's 'Thanks & Giving.' http://us.click.yahoo.com/lGEjbB/6WnJAA/E2hLAA/BRUplB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> *************************************************************************** Berdikusi dg Santun & Elegan, dg Semangat Persahabatan. Menuju Indonesia yg Lebih Baik, in Commonality & Shared Destiny. www.ppi-india.org *************************************************************************** __________________________________________________________________________ Mohon Perhatian: 1. Harap tdk. memposting/reply yg menyinggung SARA (kecuali sbg otokritik) 2. Pesan yg akan direply harap dihapus, kecuali yg akan dikomentari. 3. Lihat arsip sebelumnya, www.ppi-india.da.ru; 4. Satu email perhari: [EMAIL PROTECTED] 5. No-email/web only: [EMAIL PROTECTED] 6. kembali menerima email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ppiindia/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
