Friday 29 Mar 2024
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KUALA LUMPUR (March 20): Kepong Member of Parliament Lim Lip Eng has managed to raise RM2.25 million via public donations to pay damages and costs after losing a defamation suit brought by company MonSpace (M) Sdn Bhd and director Datuk Seri Jessy Lai Chai Suang.

In a Facebook post on his official page, Lim had thanked those who donated the money and told the public to stop donating more, as he had already reached the RM2.25 million mark he is required to pay as costs and for damages.

“We have reached RM2.25 mil. Please do not donate any further,” he said in his posting.

“I cannot thank everyone enough for the kindness and help given through these difficult times. I am humbled by your generosity,” he said.

In a High Court decision last week, judge Datuk Akhtar Tahir ordered Lim to pay RM1 million in damages to the company and another RM500,000 to Lai.

Besides this, the court also ordered Lim to pay RM500,000 in total of aggravated damages to the company and Lai. In addition, Akhtar ordered Lim to pay costs of RM250,000.

The sum is one of the largest awarded for defamation.

Akhtar in his brief decision ruled that Lim did not deny making the purported defamatory statements and it was clear that it was directed at the company and Lai.

The judge also said that the statements clearly stated that the company and Lai had bribed government officials and carried out illegal activities.

Hence, the judge said Lim’s statement is considered to have tarnished the image of Lai and the company.

For check and balance, Lim said that: “A licensed auditor will be appointed to ensure transparency & accountability on donations collected,”

He further added that “the pursuit of justice is a long and tough one”.

“Justice may be late, but it will always be here to stay. I sincerely thank you for supporting justice and standing with me,” he ended his statement.

Besides ordering the payment of damages, Akhtar also ordered Lim to publish an apology to be advertised in newspapers and various social media within seven days after this judgement had been perfected.

In 2019, MonSpace and Lai filed the defamation suit after Lim allegedly made multiple statements, including when he and several Chinese nationals visited the company headquarters in Bukit Jalil back in May 23, 2017.

According to the statement of claim, they alleged that Lim’s statement was as if they were running an illegal business and had cheated the Chinese investors and implied Lai to be a dishonest person.

Lai further claimed that the MP’s statements had pressured the authorities including the police, Bank Negara Malaysia and the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry, to take action against her.

Hence, she is claiming for general and aggravated damages for purported 15 defamatory remarks made by the politician through five publications between 2017 and 2018.

Lim, who was represented by Guok Ngek Seong, had indicated that they will appeal Thursday’s High Court decision.

In 2021, it was reported that the High Court had allowed the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission to forfeit RM1.5 million from Lai under the Anti Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds from Unlawful Activity 2001.

Edited ByKamarul Azhar
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