Kepong Mp Will Channel Donations From Legal Case To Welfare Groups

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Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng has promised to channel all public donations raised three years ago during his legal battle for defamation to national welfare organisations.
In a statement today, Lim said that the process will be conducted with “full transparency”, with the handover carried out publicly and documented.
"Confronted by a historically high compensation order from the High Court and a strict deadline, I turned to my fellow Malaysians.
“Your collective strength became the foundation for securing the stay of execution and filing the appeal, a decisive move that made all the difference.
ADS"It was a stand that transcended a personal legal battle and became a testament to our shared values," Lim said.
On Sept 29, the Court of Appeal allowed Lim's appeal against the amount he was ordered to pay in damages and costs to e-commerce firm MonSpace (M) Sdn Bhd and its founder Jessy Lai for defamation, reducing it from RM2.5 million in total to RM125,000.
A three-member bench led by judge Ahmad Zaidi Ibrahim unanimously ruled that the earlier sum imposed by the High Court was excessive.
In 2023, High Court judge Akhtar Tahir had ordered Lim to pay RM500,000 in general damages to MonSpace and RM1 million to Lai, as well as RM500,000 each in aggravated damages. Lim was also told to pay RM250,000 in costs.
Following the High Court decision three years ago, Lim raised RM2 million in public donations, with an excess of RM250,000, held by the plaintiffs’ law firm pending appeal.
RM125k payment will be own funds
Today, the DAP lawmaker said that once he receives the funds from his opponent’s lawyer, the contributions, along with accrued interest, will be handed over to selected organisations, including the National Kidney Foundation.
"Now, with this legal mission accomplished, I want to be perfectly clear: the RM125,000 in damages and costs will be paid entirely from my own funds.
“Not a single sen from your generous contributions will be used for this purpose," he added.
Lim also released an audited report dated May 30, 2023, detailing the total sum received in his lawyer’s client account during the donation drive launched that year.
He expressed gratitude to his supporters, saying their solidarity had been his family’s “greatest source of strength” and a reminder of his duty to “always speak out without fear or favour”. - Mkini

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