Guang Ming Daily journalist Ong Beng Siang, 40, claimed Lim, in a Facebook posting on Jan 22, had called him unprofessional and unethical. Lim had also alleged that Ong wanted to topple the Penang government, Ong said.

In his statement of claim, Ong said Lim had attacked his report in Guang Ming Daily regarding a land issue involving a Chinese school.

Lim had allegedly said on Facebook: “We know there are reporters who want to sully the Penang government. If they want to topple the Penang government please state it, but do not publish baseless reports.”

Lim had also allegedly questioned Ong’s journalistic ethics.

In his statement of claim, Ong said Lim’s Facebook posting had made him look unprofessional, unethical and irresponsible in his work, immoral, not sincere and not truthful, untrustworthy, unprincipled, wanting to damage the reputation of the Penang government or topple it, and that he had produced a baseless news report.

Ong is claiming general, exemplary, and aggravated damages with 5% interest per annum until completion of the suit with relief to be determined by the court.

Ong is also seeking an injunction to stop Lim from repeating the alleged defamatory statements.

“I am doing this to redeem the dignity of myself, my fellow members of the media and to clear my name which has been tarnished.

“I am doing this in my personal capacity,” Ong, a journalist with 23 years of experience, said at a press conference outside the High Court here today.

Ong’s lawyer Baljit Singh told reporters a legal notice was sent to Lim’s office on March 6, but there had been no reply.

FMT has contacted Lim and the Chief Minister’s Office for comment and is awaiting their reply.