The estranged wife of Supermax founder Stanley Thai is opposing his application to bar the media and public from their high-stakes defamation suit.
Tan Bee Geok, co-founder of the glovemaking giant, will contend at the hearing that Thai has no grounds to oppose a public hearing since he claims his impugned statements are true.
Tan also claims that Thai’s statements were circulated beyond their household.
For that reason, she says, it would be fundamentally unjust to shut the courtroom doors in a lawsuit brought to seek redress for harm allegedly suffered in the public domain.
Tan will argue that an open trial is a fundamental principle of Malaysia’s legal system and that any discomfort felt is normal to all litigants.
She is also expected to take issue with the late filing of Thai’s application, saying it disrupted the trial which had been scheduled to start last month.
On Wednesday, Tan filed an affidavit setting out her reasons for opposing the application. Thai has until Aug 6 to file his reply.
Judicial Commissioner Eddie Yeo will hear the application on Sept 19.
Tan is suing Thai over a series of text messages and verbal remarks allegedly made to family and friends three years ago—statements, she claims, were calculated to shame her as a mother, relative and business leader.
With the trial set to begin on July 23, Thai made an eleventh-hour application for a sweeping gag order to limit any potential harm to his personal and professional reputation.
He said he was also looking to shield several high-profile witnesses he intended to call to testify on his behalf.
In his application, Thai asked for the court to hold the trial behind closed doors, seal all court documents, and impose a media blackout of the proceedings.
He said the trial touches on matters that are confidential and private, and that they only involve familial matters that do not warrant public interest.
Thai, 65, is also understood to be calling several well-known individuals to testify, including a former national badminton player, a distinguished businessman and the manager of a renowned international artiste.
The tycoon did not name them but said one witness was about to get married and would not want past romantic relationships brought out into the open.
Thai also seeks other protective measures, including an order that all court transcripts remain confidential and be made available only to the parties and their lawyers. He also wants all transcribers to sign non-disclosure agreements.
Tan, 64, is represented in the suit by S Ravenesan, while Shearn Delamore & Co acts for Thai.
Thai and Tan jointly own Supermax Holdings Sdn Bhd, a substantial shareholder in Supermax Corporation Berhad, one of the world’s leading producers of rubber gloves.
They were married in 1987, but saw their relationship deteriorate amid allegations from both sides.
In 2022, Tan sought a judicial separation. Thai filed for divorce in April last year.
Those proceedings are ongoing in the family court.
