The George Town High Court has directed Kepala Batas MP Dr Siti Mastura Muhammad to submit her statement of defence before or on Jan 11, 2024. This is regarding the lawsuits filed against her by three DAP leaders.
The lawsuits were filed separately by DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng, his father Tan Sri Lim Kit Siang, and Seputeh MP Teresa Kok Suh Sim on Nov 27. They are connected to Siti Mastura’s speech during the political talk while campaigning for the Kemaman by-election.
Lawyer Datuk S.N Nair, representing all three plaintiffs, mentioned that the court has also instructed them to file replies to the defense before or on Jan 26, 2024.
“The court has set Feb 9, 2024, for further case management,” he said on WhatsApp after the case management was done via e-Review in front of Senior Asst Registrar Tunku Intan Nadiah Tunku Mohammed Nazarin.
The three plaintiffs were also represented by lawyers Jaden Phoon Wai Ken and Wong Guo Jin, while lawyer Mohamad Hakim Faharmi Hassan acted as Siti Mastura’s counsel.
The three plaintiffs have accused Siti Mastura of making defamatory statements about them being related to the Communist Party and its leader Chin Peng, as well as first Singaporean prime minister Lee Kuan Yew during a political talk on Nov 4. They alleged that they were linked to the Communist Party, supported, practiced, and spread communist ideology and philosophy in the country.
The three politicians emphasized that the defendant’s claims were baseless, false, and with ill intent as they deliberately associated them with the Communist Party and Chin Peng.
“The defendant’s actions were motivated by deceit to garner publicity to boost her political party’s image,” the three plaintiffs said in their statement of claim, in which they seek general damages, aggravated damages, and exemplary damages, as well as an injunction to prevent the defendant from further publishing the same statement. – Bernama
