Guan Eng and Utusan head for settlement out of court

GEORGE TOWN: A suit filed by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng against Utusan Melayu (M) Berhad for defamation over an article on Aug 20 last year was settled out of court today.
Lim and the publisher had entered into a consent judgment with three conditions at the Penang High Court.
Lim's counsel Simon Murali said the three conditions were a public apology in court, a printed apology on page two of the newspaper and for it to compensate Lim with an undisclosed amount.
Utusan legal executive Norzulaikah Ibrahim then read out a copy of an apology before Judicial Commissioner Azmi Abdullah
"Lim withdrew a case filed against the then State Umno Youth chief Shaik Hussein Mydin three years ago after Shaik Hussein willingly and without conditions withdrew his allegation of corruption against Lim Guan Eng on Oct 5, 2012.
"We apologise to Lim Guan Eng for the inconvenience and confusion caused by the wrong facts on our part following the publication of the original article," she read.
Murali said the printed apology was to be published within seven days beginning March 16.
Lim meanwhile was seen smiling when he exited the court room and said it was finally over.
"I am happy to clear my name," he said.