The action by Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in filing a defamation suit against the Malaysiakini news portal and its top two editors is a move towards ensuring the fundamental rights of the Umno president,
said Tan Sri Dr Rais Yatim.

Rais, who is the advisor the government on social and cultural affairs, said as a person with dignity, the prime minister would want to clear his name, having been embarassed and ridiculed.

The best venue for him to do so is the court, Rais said in a statement here today.

Rais, in commenting on a statement by Malaysian Bar president Christopher Leong calling for Najib and Umno to withdraw the suit, said it clearly reflected the council's involvement in politics, without any care for a person's right to seek justice in court.

On May 30, Najib in his capacity as Umno president, and Umno executive secretary Datuk Ab Rauf Yusoh filed a defamation suit against the company operating the Malaysiakini portal and two of its editors over the publication of two articles last month.

The writ of summons was filed through Messrs Hafarizam Wan & Aisha Mubarak at the High Court registry here.

Najib and Ab Rauf (on behalf of Umno) named Mkini Dotcom Sdn Bhd, Malaysiakini.com editor-in-chief Steven Gan and chief editor Fathi Aris Omar as the first, second and third defendants, respectively.

In their statement of claim, Najib and Ab Rauf claimed that the three defendants had reported, produced and allowed to be published two articles entitled "A case of the PM reaping what he sows" and "How much will Najib spend to keep Terengganu?".

It is claimed that the articles were published on May 14.