LIM MULLING LEGAL ACTION, SAYS PUA
Minister may file defamatory charges against those who question credentials
FINANCE Minister Lim Guan Eng is contemplating taking legal action against any individual and media that continue to diminish, question his position, stature and credibility.
“The minister’s lawyers have advised that he (Lim) reserves the right to file defamatory charges,” said his political secretary, Tony Pua in a press conference yesterday to clarify questions raised on Lim’s credentials.
Pua said the minister received his “Certificate of Membership” in Australian Society of Accountants, three months after passing his examinations on Feb 21, 1984, before obtaining his degree on April 11, 1984. Both copies of Lim’s certificates were made available to the media yesterday.
MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong had questioned Lim’s credentials as an accountant and pointed out to Monash University’s website, which stated that Lim obtained his Bachelor of Economics in 1984.
“I have no doubt about his degree qualification. However, I wonder how he became a qualified professional accountant in 1983 before he even graduated (in economics)?” Wee asked in a Facebook posting on Sunday.
Responding to this, Pua said Wee was so bankrupt of ideas and had to pick from a fictional website to sensationalise a non-existent issue to gain political mileage.
“Did MCA elect a Dr or an idiot as the president of the party? ” he asked, adding that Wee had his head planted so deep in the sand.
“The Australian academic calendar ends in November before the summer break. Therefore, by end of 1983, Lim had completed and passed all his examinations necessary for him to obtain his degree and qualifications to become an accountant,” Pua said.
On why Lim was not at the press conference to personally explain himself, he said: “It’s fibilous...there’s no need for him to come.”
Pressed further if Lim is a certified chartered accountant or just an accountant, Pua only showed a copy of the membership certificate and said the minister’s lawyers had advised him against taking questions from the media.