KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 1): “I have never been involved in the issues of the Terengganu state. I am the wife of the Sultan, a house wife and I take care of my children. I never get involved in the running of Terengganu state apart from my official duties (as Sultanah),” the Sultanah of Terengganu, Sultanah Nur Zahirah, who was holding back her tears, told the High Court on Monday (Aug 1) in her RM100 million defamation suit against Sarawak Report editor Clare Rewcastle-Brown and two others.

The Sultanah took the stand to testify in her suit against Rewcastle-Brown for publishing false statements in her book “Sarawak Report: The Inside Story of the 1MDB Exposé” with regard to the Sultanah.

The Sultanah in her suit has alleged that Rewcastle-Brown made a disparaging statement about her in the book.

She claimed that the statement could be taken to mean that she was involved in corrupt practices and interfered with the state's administration.

She also claimed that the statement in the book had linked her as “friendly” with fugitive financier Low Taek Jho or Jho Low.

Sultanah Nur Zahirah also alleged that the statement had construed her as having helped Jho Low become the adviser of Terengganu Investment Authority (TIA).

She contended that she had never involved herself in the administration of Terengganu and establishment of TIA, therefore the statement had slandered and tarnished her reputation.

It should be noted that TIA was set up as a sovereign wealth fund designed to invest the oil revenues from Terengganu and was to be run by its government.

However, Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin, the ruler of Terengganu and the husband of the Sultanah, had pulled out of TIA and wanted it to be terminated. Subsequently the Federal Government, under then prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak had endeavoured to take over the company. The company was taken over by the government and was renamed 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).

At the High Court proceedings on Monday via Zoom, an emotional Sultanah Nur Zahirah, who was clad in a purple baju kurung, testified that when her name was unexpectedly added into this controversial book, it came as a shock.

“When my name was unexpectedly attached to this controversial book, anyone at that time would not want to be associated with Jho Low, seeing what he did to this country. So surely when I read this, anyone in my situation will feel what I felt,” she said as her voice choked trying to hold back her emotions in proceedings before Judicial Commissioner Dr John Lee Kien How.

The trial was conducted via video conferencing due to the issue of security.

She said the book is slander against her and that the authors have defamed her.

“This book was supposed to speak of corruption in the country but I don’t know what compelled her (Clare) to write ‘wife of the sultan’ in her book, which is me, when I was not involved at all. She doesn’t get her facts right. I don’t understand why. So for me, I take this as slander because I don’t know her and she doesn’t know me. She’s a famous writer but why write my name? That’s wrong,” the Sultanah said when her lawyer A.K. Vishnu Kumar had asked for her explanation.

She also denied ever knowing Jho Low or ever giving her consent for his appointment.

Rewcastle-Brown, Gerakbudaya Enterprise publisher Chong Ton Sin and printer Vinlin Press Sdn Bhd were named as defendants following the publication of the book. They were represented by lawyer Americk Sidhu.

The Sultanah categorically denies having any role or influence or involvement in TIA.

She also said she never gave consent to Jho Low or any parties in relation to the establishment of TIA.

Upon cross-examination by Americk, the Sultanah said the apology by Rewcastle-Brown issued on Sept 27, 2018 was not “genuine”.

Americk had asked the Sultanah if she accepts the apology.

“To me the apology is not genuine because she said that ‘if’ I misunderstand the book then she is sorry, that’s not a kind of apology,” the Sultanah said.

Americk also suggested to the Sultanah that Rewcastle-Brown had made a correction to the book and following that omitted her name from subsequent issues.

However, the Sultanah said that damage had been done and that thousands of copies were sold with her name on it.

The Sultanah is claiming general damages of RM100 million from each defendant and also seeking an order for the publisher to withdraw the book and for the printer to stop printing it.

The trial continues on Aug 4.