Gerakan, through its secretary-general Liang Teck Meng, had sued Lim over his comments on the previous Penang government’s RM1 land sale issue in Tanjung Pinang in the late 1990s.

However, Liang dropped the case against Lim on Aug 29, following which the High Court ruled that Gerakan could not file a fresh suit against Lim on the same issue in the future.

Justice Rosilah Yop ordered Gerakan to pay Lim RM20,460.20 in costs.

According to Gerakan’s statement of claim, Lim repeatedly said that the previous 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 through his statements which were published in seven different news sites and DAP websites.

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

Gerakan also claimed Lim’s statement implied that the previous government led by Koh Tsu Koon had sold the land at below market price.