Azmin denies making defamatory statements against Guan Eng

PUTRAJAYA: Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali denies allegations that he made defamatory remarks about former finance minister Lim Guan Eng during his campaign speech for the 15th General Election (GE15) in Lunas, Kedah, on November 12th of last year.

In his defense against the lawsuit, the former trade and industry minister places the burden of proof on Lim.

“The defendant had no intention to defame the plaintiff. He merely recounted the events that occurred when the plaintiff and the defendant jointly led the Pakatan Harapan government from May 2018 to March 2020,” stated Azmin in his defense filed at the Sungai Petani High Court last Monday (September 25th).

In his defense, Mohamed Azmin criticized the government at that time, in which Lim was a part of the ruling administration, and the government’s policies towards various companies.

In the lawsuit, filed on April 17th, Lim claimed that Mohamed Azmin had made defamatory statements about him during an event in Lunas, Kedah, on November 12th of last year, prior to GE15. Media representatives covering the election campaign were in attendance.

According to Lim, Mohamed Azmin portrayed him as arrogant, and this arrogance had frightened the business community. The statements were reportedly covered in The Star newspaper on November 13th of last year.

In his claim, Lim, the former Penang chief minister, argued that the statements, specifically referencing his alleged conduct during his tenure as finance minister, had damaged his character, credibility, and reputation.

Lim asserted that the statements were defamatory and had belittled him in his position, official capacity, and profession.

He is seeking general damages, aggravated and exemplary damages, as well as an unconditional apology from Mohamed Azmin to be published in The Star newspaper and The Star Online.

On August 8th, the Sungai Petani High Court granted Lim’s request for substituted service, allowing his defamation lawsuit against Mohamed Azmin to be delivered through public means such as newspaper publications, when personal delivery cannot be made. – Bernama