Threat to sue Mkini not crackdown, says PM

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak explained today that his legal action against news portal Malaysiakini is not part of a media crackdown.

"I want to be very clear: this does not indicate any wider agenda. It is not part of any crackdown; it is not an attempt to silence critical voices," he told attendees at the National Press Club award ceremony in Kuala Lumpur tonight.

Without naming Malaysiakini, Najib (right) said he believed the news portal had gone overboard.

"There is a difference between legitimate criticism and defamation.

"It is my legal team's opinion that recent allegations by an online news portal overstepped the line. They have therefore issued a legal notice," he said.

Najib is taking legal action against the Malaysiakini for publishing comments by readers on the short-lived Terengganu political crisis.

More to follow from Malaysiakini