Malaysiakini's lawyers have filed a notice of discontinuance at the Shah Alam High Court of a defamation suit filed by former MCA treasurer-general Lau Yin Pin against the news portal following a settlement of the 2008 suit.

Malaysiakini's lawyer Fahri Azzat said the notice of discontinuance was filed on Wednesday.

Lau in his settlement announced his intention to withdraw the law suit against Malaysiakini and former MCA Kapar chairperson Khoh Siew Kim by mutual consent over a news report published on April 28, 2008, 'MCA embroiled in another land scam' .

This followed an earlier report on the Kampung Perepat land issue where several temporary occupation licence (TOL) holders were denied ownership of several plots of land in Kapar when they were taken back by the Selangor government and given to new applicants.

Lau to surrender disputed plot of land

Malaysiakini's former reporter Stanley Koh, who wrote the report, said he was glad Lau had decided to withdraw the defamation suit against the news portal and Khoh.

Koh said Lau was also willing to surrender the disputed plot of land to the state government, which in turn would give it back to its original owner.

"I have known Lau for a long time even before his appointment as treasurer-general during Ong Ka Ting's tenure as party president in 2003. His move to return the piece of land to the state proves his integrity and that of a man with a conscience.

"I am saying this is not because he is withdrawing the legal case against Malaysiakini ."

Koh ( left ) said he was correct in suspecting that Lau had obtained the land not only to help a friend, but he had done so at that time without full knowledge of the facts.

"He did not use his friend's Kapar home address as his residential address to apply for the land as was reported.

"I owe Lau my personal apology in view of the latest information and it is only fair to everybody by putting the right perspectives on this issue.

"I am saying this with no prejudice to my former employer, Malaysiakini, for posting and defending the news report which I wrote then. But with the benefit of hindsight, whatever it is, the misunderstanding could have caused embarrassment to Lau, even though he is no longer active in politics," Koh said.

'Let bygones be bygones'

When contacted by Malaysiakini for comment, Lau ( left ) said "let bygones be bygones" and that he wanted to put this matter to rest.

"I wish that the harmony among all the parties involved prevails from now onwards. There is no need for further comment on this matter," he added.

Malaysiakini editor-in-chief Steven Gan welcomed the out-of-court settlement to the law suit.

"What's important is that an injustice has been corrected - the disputed plot of land is going back to its rightful owner."