KUALA LUMPUR: The Sultanah of Terengganu, Sultanah Nur Zahirah has initiated a legal action for libel against Sarawak Report editor Clare Rewcastle-Brown over defamatory statements made against the former in Page 3 of 'The Sarawak Report (SR) - The Inside Story of 1MDB Expose'.
Sultanah Nur Zahirah is also seeking for RM300 million in damages.
Apart from that, she is seeking for an apology from Rewcastle-Brown, local publisher Gerakbudaya Enterprise and printer Vinlin Press Sdn Bhd.
The companies are also required to withdraw the book from sale and circulation.
Speaking at a press conference today, Sultanah Nur Zahirah's lawyer Datuk Mohd Haaziq Abdullah said Rewcastle-Brown has eight days from Sept 27 to make a full written, unequivocal public retraction and written apology in terms to be approved by her the Sultanah's legal counsel.
He informed that a letter of demand was served on Rewcastle-Brown and the two companies on Thursday.
Rewcastle-Brown also has to give an undertaking not to repeat the statements.
"This is to safeguard the integrity and interests of the Sultanah and to safeguard the good name of the Terengganu Royal Institution. This is not for money, in fact any award by the court would be donated to charity," he said.
Mohd Haaziq added that the legal action has nothing to do with Rewcastle-Brown's book on 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).
"We are only concerned about page 3 that contains defamatory statements.
"The statements made were deemed defamatory as Sultanah Nur Zahirah had never interfered with government affairs," he said.
He informed that the Sultanah was never involved with the establishment of the Terengganu Investment Authority (TIA) and the sovereign wealth fund.
"Sultanah Nur Zahirah never supported Jho Low (fugitive financier Low Taek Jho) in obtaining the advisory role in TIA.
"Sultanah Nur Zahirah does not know Jho Low and her knowledge of him is based on media reports," he added.
Mohd Haaziq was referring to statements made in the book that Jho Low was friendly with "a key player in Terengganu, the wife of the Sultan, whose acquiescence was needed to set up the fund" and that Jho Low later cited the Sultan's wife's "support as having been crucial" to him obtaining the advisory position.
Mohd Haaziq said the imputation of what was said gave the impression that the Sultanah was involved in corrupt practises.
It also gave the impression that Sultanah Nur Zahirah had close ties with persons of questionable character such as Jho Low, who based on media reports is a playboy and wanted by the authorities, Mohd Haaziq said.
"Rewcastle-Brown's statements cannot be justified, are baseless and have aspects of insults," he remarked, adding that it has caused distress, embarrassment and injury to the Sultanah's reputation.
Commenting on Rewcastle-Brown's apology made on the Sarawak Portal online site, Mohd Haaziq said they did not accept the apology.
Also present at the press conference was Royal Comptroller of the Terengganu Palace who had lodged a police report on the defamatory statements on Sept 14, Mohd Azmi Mohd Daham.