The political feud between DAP Chairman Lim Guan Eng and Bersatu President Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has reached a dramatic turning point, as Lim has filed a bankruptcy notice against Muhyiddin, who also serves as the Perikatan Nasional Chairman. This move follows Muhyiddin's failure to pay a RM1.4 million judgment awarded by the High Court in a defamation lawsuit concerning allegations related to the Yayasan Albukhary tax-exempt status controversy.
Lim’s legal team, Guok Partnership, confirmed the filing, with lawyer Guok Ngek Seong stating that the notice will be served personally on Muhyiddin once the sealed copy is obtained from the court, as reported by Free Malaysia Today (FMT). This action follows Muhyiddin's failure to comply with a prior demand to settle the judgment sum within the stipulated timeframe.
However, Muhyiddin is not backing down. His solicitors, Chetan Jethwani & Co, have filed an application to stay the execution of the judgment pending an appeal. The former prime minister is attempting to overturn the High Court’s decision, which Justice Roz Mawar Rozain delivered on November 8, 2024.
In her ruling, Justice Roz Mawar found that Lim had proven his case against Muhyiddin on a balance of probabilities. The defamatory statements, the judge noted, had tarnished Lim’s reputation, exposed him to public hatred, and implied abuse of power against Muslims, a particularly damaging accusation in Malaysia’s multiracial society.
The court ordered Muhyiddin to pay RM350,000 in general damages for each of the three defamatory statements, alongside RM150,000 in aggravated damages and another RM150,000 in exemplary damages. Additionally, he must pay RM50,000 in costs, retract the offending statements, and refrain from republishing them.
The statements in question were made by Muhyiddin between March 9 , 2023 and March 12, 2023. They included allegations that Lim, as the Finance Minister, had directed the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) to revoke Yayasan Albukhary's tax-exempt status and impose a hefty penalty. These claims were made public through press releases, speeches, and media interviews shortly after Muhyiddin's release from Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission custody.
The court dismissed Muhyiddin’s defences of justification, fair comment, and qualified privilege, declaring them unsustainable. Justice Roz Mawar emphasized that the statements had severe implications, damaging Lim’s standing and credibility within Malaysia’s racially and religiously diverse society.
This case underscores the high stakes of political rivalries in Malaysia, where defamation lawsuits have become a weapon in the battle for public opinion and political survival. For Muhyiddin, the consequences of losing this legal battle could extend beyond financial implications, potentially impacting his political career and credibility. Bankruptcy could mark the end of his political career.
As the saga unfolds, it remains to be seen whether Muhyiddin can overturn the judgment or if Lim’s bankruptcy notice will bring this chapter to a dramatic conclusion. One thing is certain: this case has set a precedent on the price of defamatory statements in Malaysia’s political arena.
By: Kpost
Information Source:
Kpost is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
The User Content (as defined on Newswav Terms of Use) above including the views expressed and media (pictures, videos, citations etc) were submitted & posted by the author. Newswav is solely an aggregation platform that hosts the User Content. If you have any questions about the content, copyright or other issues of the work, please contact Newswav.