GEORGE TOWN, Aug 4 – Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng had won RM 300,000 in a damage defamation suit against three defendants including Penang Citizens Chant Group (Chant) adviser Prof Dr Jimmy Lim Cheok Siang, Free Malaysia Today (FMT) and its former journalist S. Karunakaran at Penang High Court Tuesday.
Judicial Commissioner Datuk Nordin Hassan had ordered the three defendants to pay Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng for RM300,000 in a damage with a 5 per cent interest per annum and RM30,000 in legal costs. Nordin also ordered the online publisher and Karukanan to retract the online article, titled “Guan Eng has failed, says NGO” which had published on FMT on Dec 6, 2013.
Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng was not present in court and had been represented by his counsel Datuk Murali Navaretnam. While there were also present of Lawyers Baljit Singh, V. Amareson and Rowena Yam which are represented Jimmy Lim. Besides that, Clement Lopez acted as counsel for second defendant MToday News Sdn Bhd, the operator of FMT and third defendant Karunakaran.
“We are very disappointed and regret the decision that went against us. However the decision has not dampened our spirit towards preserving Penang’s History, Culture, Heritage and the Environment. Besides that, we will still continue with our effort to do so,” said Jimmy in his written statement which also on behalf of Chant Group.
“In this respect, it is our intent to appeal against this decision, as we think our role as Spokesmen for History, Culture, Heritage and the Environment of Penang is important and must be continued,” he added in his statement.
