Defamation Lim Sues Tajuddin Over Finance Ministry Allegations

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Former finance minister Lim Guan Eng filed a defamation suit against former Pasir Salak MP Tajuddin Abdul Rahman over allegedly racist remarks in 2022.
The suit was filed at the Kuala Lumpur High Court at around noon today by Messrs Guok Partnership, with Tajuddin named as the sole defendant.
A court notice sighted by Malaysiakini stated that Sept 22 was scheduled for case management.
This means Lim finally followed through on his October 2022 threat to sue the Umno politician.
ADSTajuddin was previously reported to have made the remarks on Oct 18, 2022, during a live talk show, where he alleged Lim had turned the Finance Ministry office into a Chinese temple and was unwelcoming to Malays.
He alleged that Lim had terminated Malay civil servants working for the ministry and “brought in his people”, who were purportedly incompetent and placed in a room with no work to do.
Former Pasir Salak MP Tajuddin Abdul RahmanLim was the finance minister between 2018 and 2022, under the Pakatan Harapan federal government.
The programme, in which Tajuddin had made the remarks, was focused on discussing the 15th general election (GE15), scheduled on Nov 19 the same year.
‘Painting a bad picture’
In his supporting affidavits, Lim said Tajuddin’s statement was made in clear reference to him, as the latter had mentioned his name, and that he was the finance minister at that time.
He deemed Tajuddin had taken a calculated move in making such remarks, given GE15 was just around the corner then.
Prior to filing the suit, Lim said he demanded an unconditional apology and RM2 million in damages from Tajuddin, via a letter sent by his solicitors on Nov 4, the same year, and again on Aug 12, 2024, to which Tajuddin did not reply.
Finance Ministry building“The defendant (Tajuddin) realised or ought to realise that any materials published or broadcast on the Internet are deemed to reach the world globally and at large.
“The defendant had intentionally made the defamatory statements against the plaintiff when he knew that GE15 was just around the corner, to gain cheap publicity and political mileage.
“The 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.”
Lim claimed that Tajuddin’s statement was also intended to inflame Malay and Muslim voters’ hatred and contempt against him, who was allegedly painted to have abused his power as finance minister, who decorated or altered the ministry’s office, using public funds, to be a Chinese temple.
ADSThese statements, he said, had gravely injured or impaired his reputation as a seasoned and respected politician, who was then the finance minister, a former Penang chief minister, and former chairperson of DAP.
It also injured his personal reputation, goodwill, and exposed him to public contempt and odium, Lim added.
“In the natural and ordinary meaning, the words in the statement (seems to have) meant and understood to mean that the plaintiff was an incompetent minister, who had abused his position and power by purportedly sacking or terminating Malay civil servants who were working in the ministry.
“(The statements) caused embarrassment, distress, and considerable hurt to the plaintiff’s feeling, particularly when it is untrue, (with mala fide) and maliciously made by the defendant targeting the plaintiff when the GE15 was just around the corner.
“Despite the gravity of the allegations made in the statements, the defendant did not make any attempt to verify the alleged facts with the plaintiffs, or to afford the plaintiff any opportunity to explain or comment on the statements before publication.”
Apology sought
He also claimed that Tajuddin was unrepentant and not remorseful despite being given the opportunity to retract or apologise to him.
In the suit, Lim demanded that Tajuddin retract the statements and issue an apology and publish them in all news organisations, including MalayMail, Free Malaysia Today, and Malaysiakini.
He also sought general, aggravated, and punitive damages, as well as an injunction order from the court to restrain Tajuddin or his employees, servants, or agents from issuing, publishing, or republishing the statements or similar words.
He further demanded five percent interest per annum on all sums that may be awarded by the court, as well as costs and other relief deemed fit. - Mkini

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