This followed Gerakan’s decision through its counsel V Amareson to withdraw the case against Lim.

Lim’s lawyer K Simon Murali told the court however that his client was prepared to go through the full trial process to defend himself, adding that it was unfair for Gerakan to withdraw the suit at this juncture.

“It is unfair for Gerakan to withdraw the suit now without paying a single sen after the meticulous preparations made to pursue the case,” he said.

Simon also asked the court to consider barring Gerakan from filing such suits against Lim in the future, adding that Gerakan should be ordered to pay the costs.

Justice Rosilah Yop ordered for the case to be struck out and ruled that Gerakan should not be allowed to file such a case anew.

She also ordered Gerakan to pay costs to Lim, with the quantum to be decided on Sept 12.

On July 25 last year, Gerakan, through its secretary-general Liang Teck Meng, sought aggravated and exemplary damages deemed fit by the court over Lim’s remarks on the previous Gerakan Penang government selling land cheaply to a developer.

The former Barisan Nasional component party also demanded a public apology from Lim on all media outlets.

According to the statement of claim, Lim repeatedly said the Gerakan-led Penang government had sold 980 acres of land valued at RM42.7 million in Tanjong Pinang at RM1 per sq ft in the 1990s.

Gerakan claimed Lim had damaged its reputation among the public through his statements which were published in seven different news sites and DAP websites.

Gerakan also said Lim’s statements had implied that Gerakan was unprincipled, untrustworthy, and not bothered about the rights of Penangites.

Gerakan said Lim’s statement also implied that the previous government led by former chief minister Koh Tsu Koon had sold the land below market price.