`Felda has no basis to sue the public'

`Felda has no basis to sue the public'

PETALING JAYA: Parti Keadilan Rakyat has claimed that the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) cannot sue the public as it was established for the benefit of the rakyat.

Party's lawyer N. Surendran said under the common law, statutory bodies such as Felda, including the Federal and state governments, could not file defamation suits against the public.

"Any statutory body which uses the rakyat's money cannot file a suit against the rakyat. Felda was established with that money and its threat to sue PKR and Suara Keadilan is baseless," he said yesterday.

Also present were PKR vice-president R. Sivarasa, supreme council member Datuk Dr Tan Kee Kwong and PKR Felda and Orang Asal bureau chairman Suhaimi Said.

Surendran said Felda should "study the law all over again" before taking legal action.

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Ahmad Maslan had said that Felda would file a RM200 million defamation suit against several Pakatan Rakyat leaders, Suara Keadilan publishers and reporters, following a report claiming that Felda was bankrupt.

Among those who would be named in the suit are opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, PKR political bureau member Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, Pas Kuala Terengganu member of parliament Mohd Abdul Wahid Endut and Tan, who was former land and co-operative development deputy minister.

It was reported that Felda would also take action against Tan, who had publicly accused Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak of single-handedly destroying Felda.