Former finance minister Lim Guan Eng has filed a defamation suit against Tajuddin Abdul Rahman over the former Umno Supreme Council member’s remarks accusing him of turning the finance ministry into a “Chinese temple” during his tenure.
In the suit filed today, three years after the alleged defamatory statement was made, Lim is seeking a retraction of the impugned remarks and a public apology to be published on Tajuddin’s social media accounts, as well as in newspapers and online media outlets.
The former Penang chief minister is also seeking damages and an injunction to prevent the former Pasir Salak MP from republishing any similar defamatory statements about him.
In the statement of claim filed by his solicitors, Messrs Guok Partnership, at the High Court registry this afternoon, Lim said that on Oct 18, 2022, Tajuddin took part in a forum organised by Sinar Harian, where the discussion focused on the 15th general election.
Lim, who is now the DAP adviser, said Tajuddin accused him of sidelining the Malays during his tenure as minister, further alleging that he had “turned the ministry into a Chinese temple”.
He added that the allegedly defamatory statements were widely circulated on social media, online news portals, and traditional media.
Claiming the statement was a calculated move, Lim said Tajuddin had implied that he carried out his ministerial duties recklessly and was unfit to hold public office.
He said it also gave the impression that he abused his position and power by purportedly dismissing Malay civil servants from the ministry during the Pakatan Harapan administration between May 2018 and February 2020.
He said Tajuddin’s remark also created the false impression that he had decorated or transformed the ministry into a Chinese temple.
He contended that the publication of these statements had seriously damaged his reputation as a respected politician, including his standing as a former chairman and former secretary-general of DAP.
On Oct 27, 2022, Lim had threatened to sue Tajuddin over the matter and said that the details of the suit would be revealed by his lawyers.
