Guan Eng takes Tajuddin to court for alleged defamatory comments
The Bagan member of parliament filed the lawsuit via Messrs. Guok Partnership by naming the former Pasir Salak MP as the sole defendant at the High Court here today.
According to the statement of claim, Lim alleged that Tajuddin, a former Umno supreme council member, had uttered the remarks during a media interview discussing on the 15th general election on Oct 18, 2022.
The plaintiff claimed the statements were published and aired through official portals of Malay daily Sinar Harian, several news portals, and communicated widely through the internet and social medias.
"The defamatory statements were made with a view of painting a bad picture against the plaintiff as a politician who was racist, anti-Malay, anti-Muslim, and insensitive to Malays, among others.
"The defamatory statements made by the defendant was also intended to inflame the hatred and contempt the Malay and Muslim voters towards the plaintiff.
"The conduct of the defendant in issuing and publishing the defamatory statements were indeed malicious and with mala fide intent," claimed the plaintiff.
Lim claimed that the remarks painted him as an incompetent minister who had carried out his duties recklessly.
He further alleged that the statement suggested he had abused his position by purportedly dismissing Malay civil servants serving in the Finance Ministry at the time.
"The impugned statements also depict the plaintiff as a racist and practices racial discrimination against the Malay civil servants and destroyed the racial harmony by practicing race-based policies and discriminated other races over his own race.
"On Nov 4, 2022, the plaintiff issued a letter of demand to the defendant demanding for an unconditional apology and RM2 million for damages.
"However, the defendant refused to respond to or comply with the plaintiff's letter of demand," he claimed.
Lim is seeking Tajuddin to issue an apology via all newspapers in this country including online portal as well as retraction of all the impugned statements.
He is also seeking general, aggravated and punitive damages.
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