PETALING JAYA: Communication and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek has defended Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s move to sue an online portal, saying that he has the right to sue as the article could create a negative impression of the Prime Minister.

“In this matter, we can see that a reader’s comment was made as the headline of the story. If it brings a bad impression of the Prime Minister, he has the right to sue,” he said, when asked to comment on the suit filed by Najib and Umno over two alleged defamatory articles news portal on May 14.

Najib, who is Prime Minister and Umno president, is doing so in his personal capacity.

Ahmad Shabery said that despite Malaysia being a democratic country, freedom of speech should not be abused by any quarters.

“If we think that we can simply write anything about a person without having any consequences and without getting the other side of the story, especially if it could bring damage to the other person, such thinking is wrong

“I think that we can question whether it was ethical to put a reader’s comment as a headline and whether it represent the editorial policy of the media company

“If they dare to write such things, they must be prepared to face the legal implications,” he said.