Court Extends Vincent Tan S Interim Restraining Order Against Sanusi

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The Shah Alam High Court has allowed tycoon Vincent Tan’s bid for an ad-interim injunction against Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor.
The civil court made the ruling this morning when it postponed today’s initially scheduled hearing - of the businessperson’s inter parte (both plaintiff and defendant present) injunction bid - to Oct 25.
Previously on Aug 17, the court allowed Tan’s ex-parte (only plaintiff present during hearing) restraining order against Sanusi until today, which is linked to the tycoon’s defamation suit against the Perikatan Nasional leader.
Today was initially set for both Tan (above, left) and Sanusi’s legal teams to present oral submissions on whether injunction ought to be imposed, pending disposal of the main lawsuit.
When contacted, the businessperson’s counsel Chuar Kia Lin said that Sanusi’s legal team intends to oppose the injunction bid and needed more time to file their affidavits and written submissions.
“As we the plaintiff have no objection to that, the court fixed the hearing date of inter parte hearing on Oct 25.
“In the meantime, the court has also granted an ad-interim injunction pending the full disposal of the inter-parte injunction,” Chuar said.
Checks on the judiciary's online cause list showed that the matter is set for inter parte injunction hearing on Oct 25 before judicial commissioner Choong Yeow Choy.
Malaysiakini is awaiting a response from Sanusi’s lawyers over the matter.
Shah Alam High CourtPreviously, Tan’s lawyers issued a demand letter seeking the PN’s apology and RM200 million compensation.
This concerns Sanusi’s claim of impropriety between the tycoon and Selangor menteri besar Amirudin Shari over the Klang River cleaning project.
After the Kedah menteri besar allegedly declined to abide by Tan's legal letter, the Berjaya Group founder filed the defamation suit on Aug 8.
The writ of summons was over Sanusi’s speech during the Kedah state election campaign at Dataran Darulaman, Jitra, on Aug 2, which saw the attendance of hundreds of people.
According to the statement of claim, Tan and Berjaya Land Bhd - the first and second plaintiffs respectively - rubbished the allegations, contending that Sanusi refused to abide by their legal letter through his lawyers’ letter in response, dated Aug 8.
Cheap publicity
ublicityThe plaintiffs claimed that not only were the allegations baseless and untrue but were also uttered and disseminated in bad faith and for “pure and pedantic political expediency and inflammatory rhetoric of the defendant”.
Tan and the company claimed Sanusi did not take reasonable steps to verify the truthfulness of the claims before uttering them during the speech, claiming the defendant wanted to gain cheap publicity and sensation for personal or electoral gains.
The plaintiffs claimed that Sanusi’s statement painted them as corrupt and cronies of Amirudin, had caused the Selangor state government to incur a loss of RM180 million from purported land given for “free”, and defrauded Selangor citizens, among others.
“The severity of the defamation and the debilitating impact against the plaintiffs have been unprecedented and remarkably intense.
“Especially in the very last hour of the political campaigning with the public’s attention, and continues to impact the plaintiffs in all manners to date.
“The plaintiffs have an unblemished reputation as businessperson and company and hold highly respectable positions in society both locally and internationally,” Tan and Berjaya Land said.
World stage
The plaintiffs pointed out that Tan has a large extended family and that Sanusi’s claims have pervaded and permeated his family circle, further aggravating his and his family’s mental trauma.
The duo claimed the allegations have spread to the world stage, whereby international business organisations or corporations may harbour adverse impressions against them.
Besides the various damages, Tan and Berjaya Land seek an injunction to restrain Sanusi from further repeating the alleged defamatory statement.
The plaintiffs also seek five percent interest on any judgment sum awarded, costs, and any other relief deemed fit by the court. - Mkini

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