Lim had sued Teng over statements on the sale of state-owned land in Pulau Jerejak in 2016.

Lim had also named Star Media Group Berhad, its news editor, northern region business journalist David Tan and journalist Crystal Chiam Shiying as defendants over their reports on the controversy. Chiam now works for the Penang Island City Council.

The MCA-owned media company had settled the matter earlier with Lim without going to court.

In the statement of apology and retraction shared by Lim and his lawyer, Murelidaran M Navaratnam, with FMT today, Teng apologised to Lim and retracted the impugned statements made at a press conference on Nov 15, 2016, which were later published in The Star, Guang Ming Daily and Sin Chew Daily.

Teng also regretted the hardship and difficulties caused to Lim due to the publication of the articles.

On Nov 12, the Court of Appeal allowed Lim’s appeal to reinstate his defamation suit against Teng. The court also ordered Teng to pay Lim RM75,000 in costs.

The appellate court said it was bound by a Federal Court decision on Feb 26 which allowed Lim’s appeal in a defamation action against Malay rights group Perkasa.

Lim told the bench the parties had agreed to settle the matter by way of a consent order.

Appeal court judge Kamaludin Md Said then fixed case management today at the Penang High Court.

Teng’s lawyer, Harpal Singh, told FMT his client would extend a written apology to Lim.

Lim’s suit against Teng was struck out in 2018 on grounds that he did not have locus standi to file the suit as chief minister.

He brought Teng to court on Dec 20, 2016 for claiming that he had caused state investment arm Penang Development Corporation to lose a RM220 million profit by turning down a joint venture deal on the sale of land in Pulau Jerejak.