‘I did not lodge report against Apandi’
KUALA LUMPUR: DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang told the High Court yesterday that he did not lodge a police report against former attorney-general (A-G) Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali with regard to the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal.
He said this when testifying in his defence in a defamation suit against him by Apandi over an article he wrote alleging that the latter had “aided and abetted” in the scandal.
During cross-examination by Apandi’s lawyer, M. Visvanathan, Lim disagreed that the reason he did not lodge the police report was because he knew Apandi did not commit any wrongdoing in the 1MDB case.
Visvanathan: You were not brave enough, not bold enough to lodge a police report?
Lim: I did not lodge a police report. The A-G must be accountable to the people of Malaysia. Visvanathan: Do you agree that the reason you did not lodge a police report was because you knew that the plaintiff did not aid and abet in the scandal? Lim: I don’t agree.
Lim also admitted that he did not write a letter to the former AG to seek clarification on the latter’s press statement dated Jan 26, 2016, clearing former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak of allegations of wrongdoings in 1MDB and SRC International Sdn Bhd related matters.
Visvanathan then suggested that as a member of parliament, it would have been better and proper if Lim had written to the plaintiff demanding a clarification to which Lim disagreed.
The lawyer then contended that Lim’s response indicated that he had never wanted a clarification from the plaintiff and was attempting to bring the issue into the political arena.
Lim disagreed to the contention.
The trial continues on June 21 before judge Datuk Azimah Omar.
Apandi, who is now a solicitor, claimed that Lim, in an article he wrote which was published on news portal Malaysiakini, implied that the former had a major role in aiding and abetting the 1MDB fiasco.
The article titled “Dangerous fallacy to think Malaysia is on the road to integrity” was published on May 6, 2019.
Apandi said the article had tainted his reputation by claiming that he assisted, abetted and was directly involved in the 1MDB scandal.