Former inspector-general of police (IGP) Hanif Omar officially apologized to DAP politician Lim Kit Siang today over absurd allegations that Kit Siang attempted racial segregation in 1969.

Hanif had earlier claimed that he received a Special Branch intelligence report that detailed Kit Siang’s plans to split Peninsular Malaysia between the Malays and non-Malays, with the West coast for minorities and the East cost being given to the Malays.

Hanif claimed that the DAP stalwart made the proposal in Europe after the May 13 riots.

Hanif’s apology was made before the High Court Judicial Commissioner Quay Chew Soon as part of the settlement for a defamation lawsuit brought by Lim Kit Siang against the former IGP.

“I confirm that the plaintiff’s (Lim) arrest in 1969 was not on the basis that he called for the country to be divided according to racial lines,” he said before High Court judicial commissioner Quay Chew Soon.

Kit Siang had filed the defamation suit in 2018 citing his belief that Hanif’s remarks affected his reputation as an elected representative and as a public figure.

Syarikat Sinar Karangkraf Sdn Bhd, the publisher of Sinar Harian, was also named as a defendant in the suit.

Hanif’s remarks which were made at the ‘Karamah Bangsa’ convention in Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), Shah Alam, was published in Sinar Harian as well.

The organisation was represented by executive editor Ruzy Adila Idris who apologized for the misinformation written about Kit Siang in two seperate reports that were published

“We admit that we erroneously reported that the plaintiff (Kit Siang) wanted Malaya to be divided into two — that is the East Coast for the Malays and the West Coast for the Chinese. We regret the publication of the sensitive statements without proper verification.

“Hence, we withdraw the two reports dated Sept 6 and 11, 2018,” Ruzy stated.

Sinar Harian will also be publishing their formal apology before the end of September.

Kit Siang who was represented by lawyer Sangeet Kau Deo accepted Hanif’s and Sinar Harian’s apology on the matter.

Rocket