Reporter sues Guan Eng for defamation
GEORGE TOWN: In what may be the first case of its kind, a senior journalist of Guang Ming Daily filed a defamation suit against Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng yesterday.
Ong Beng Siang, 40, who has 23 years of experience as a journalist, sued Lim in his personal capacity.
Speaking after filing his suit at the High Court Registrar here, Ong, accompanied by his counsel, Datuk Baljit Singh, said there were three main reasons that prompted his action.
“I want to clear my name and defend my reputation. More importantly, I want to defend the reputation of
(all) journalists.”
In his statement of claim,
Ong, who has won awa rd s and recognition throughout his career, claimed Lim had allegedly slandered him following his report on a land-related issue that involved a Chinese school, in a Facebook post under the account of CM Lim Guan Eng.
In the Facebook post, dated Jan 22, Lim had allegedly said he knew of the existence of journalists who were out to paint the state government in a bad light. He had allegedly said if such journalists wanted to overthrow the state government, they should use facts and not publish baseless reports.
Lim had also allegedly questioned Ong’s journalistic ethics.
In his statement of claim, Ong said the post was malicious and aimed at tarnishing his reputation and good name as a journalist in the eyes of the public.
Ong said the post made him look unprofessional and unethical in carrying out his profession and being immoral, dishonest, untrustworthy and unprincipled.
He is demanding for an apology from Lim, as well as general, exemplary and aggravated damages.