Umno has withdrawn its defamation suit against Batu MP Tian Chua, after he apologised for his comments alleging the party had orchestrated the Lahad Datu intrusion.
Both parties agreed to the mutual settlement in chambers, before High Court Judicial Commissioner Rosilah Yop, on what would have been the first day of trial.
"I've agreed to express regret for implying that Umno was involved with the Lahad Datu incident," Tian Chua told reporters outside the courtroom on Monday.
PKR vice-president Chua Tian Chang, better known as Tian Chua, also said he did not mean to insult Umno through his statements.
As part of the settlement, the offending article published on PKR's online portal KeadilanDaily.com would also be withdrawn.
Umno executive secretary Datuk Ab Rauf Yusoh confirmed that a mutual settlement had been reached.
No order as to cost was given by the court in the consent judgement.
On March 15 2013, Ab Rauf filed the suit to the High Court registra, through Messrs Hafarizam Wan & Aisha Mubarak.
The suit named Tian Chua, KeadilanDaily.com editor Fazallah Pit and the article's author Aisha Geoffrey, as defendants.
In his statement of claim, Ab Rauf said Tian Chua accused Umno of being a conspirator to the shooting incident; thereby implying it was a traitor to the country.
He said that a libellous article has been published on PKR's online portal on March 1 under the heading "Insiden tembakan di Lahad Datu konspirasi terancang Umno - Tian (Shooting incident at Lahad Datu a planned conspiracy of Umno - Tian).
Ab Rauf had innitially sought an injunction to prevent the defendants from publishing similar words, damages, an apology and costs.
In a statement of defence filed on April 22, Tian Chua said he did not defame Umno in any manner.
He claimed that the statement was fair comment and made on an occasion of qualified privilege as a member of parliament.
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