Lim ordered to pay rM500,000

Penang CM to file appeal after losing defamation suit against Jahara

GEORGE TOWN: Penang Opposition Leader Datuk Jahara Hamid won her defamation suit against Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, who had called her a racist grandmother during a press conference two years ago.

Lim was ordered to pay Jahara RM500,000 in damages and RM40,000 in costs.

Jahara was granted an injunction to prevent Lim, who is DAP secretary-general, from further repeating the defamatory remark against her.

Judicial Commissioner Datuk Nordin Hasan in his ruling yesterday, said that Lim’s statement was not based on facts and was defamatory.

“It cannot be denied that racial issue and those involving the integrity of a leader would attract public attention and is of public interest.

“The defence’s defamatory statement was not based on proven true facts, and therefore the defence of fair comment has failed,” he said.

The court also dismissed Lim’s counterclaim that Jahara had associated him with the operator of the Mazu Temple on Pulau Jerejak and an alleged name change of that island to Penang Mazu Island.

Jahara, in her statement of claim, had said that Lim called her a racist grandmother at a press conference after the state assembly sitting on Dec 9, 2013.

In his defence, Lim said his remarks, published by an online news portal, were not defamatory.

Counsel Datuk Jahaberdeen Mohamed Yunoos represented Jahara while counsel Datuk N. Mureli represented Lim.

Both Lim and Jahara were not present in court.

Over in Bukit Mertajam, when asked about the court decision, Lim said he will follow his lawyer’s advice to file an appeal against the court decision.

“My lawyer has strongly recommended that I file an appeal to the Court of Appeal and I will follow his advice,” he said during a press conference after opening the Permanent Food Production Plantation (TKPM) in Juru here yesterday.

In Putrajaya, Jahara maintained that she was not racist and only acted for the rights of the people.

“The decision has brought justice to my claim that I am not a racist.

“I only want to fight for the rights of the people, especially small-scale traders in Penang.

“All I ask is for the state and local governments to be fair to these businesses,” said Jahara, who was in Putrajaya for a meeting.

The defence’s defamatory statement was not based on proven true facts, and therefore the defence of fair comment has failed.

datuk Nordin Hasan