The Malaysian Insider

PUTRAJAYA, Feb 9 — MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu was today ordered by the Court of Appeal to pay a symbolic sum of RM1 as costs to the late Kumanan Pupathi Athimulan, Malaysia Nanban’s chief group editorial advisor, in a RM100 million defamation suit.

Justices Datin Paduka Zaleha Zahari, Datuk Wira Abu Samah Nordin and Datuk Ramly Ali made the order following an application by counsel K. Saraswathy for Kumanan Pupathi Athimulan, who was better known as Athi Kumanan, for the sum to be given to Athi Kumanan.

Zaleha also ordered Samy Vellu to pay RM1,500 in costs to the publisher of the Malaysia Nanban newspaper, Penerbitan Sahabat (M) Sdn Bhd.

Earlier, counsel Khairun Niza Husnin and S. Arumugam for Penerbitan Sahabat had asked the court for RM5,000 costs.

Prem Ramachandran, counsel for Samy Vellu asked the court for no order as to costs or a minimun amount to be given as Athi Kumanan had passed away.

Zaleha made the decision after Samy Vellu had applied to withdraw his  appeal against the High Court’s dismissal of his injunction application seeking to restrain Athi Kumanan and Penerbitan Sahabat from further printing or publishing articles similar to those that appeared in the Nov 11 and 18, 2003 issues of the newspaper.

Samy Vellu withdrew his appeal following his decision to withdraw his suit against them at the High Court on Nov 11, 2009 after Athi Kumanan had died.

In 2003, Samy Vellu filed the suit against Penerbitan Sahabat and Athi Kumanan alleging that the articles carried by the daily implied that he had “cheated and pawned” the Indian community.

Speaking to Bernama, Saraswathy said she requested for the sum of RM1 as costs for Athi Kumanan as a symbolic sum of victory.

“The historic award of RM1 against S. Samy Vellu has coincided with Athi Kumanan’s 60th birthday celebration by his well-wishers,” she said. — Bernama

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