In his defence filed last week by the Chambers of Kamarul Hisham & Hasnal Rezua, Tajuddin said any references to Lim in 2022 were made in Lim’s capacity as a former public office holder and as a member of Pakatan Harapan, which DAP is part of.
“These references cannot amount to defaming the plaintiff (Lim),” the court filing said.
Tajuddin argued that the statements cited in Lim’s suit to prove defamation were an extreme interpretation and could also be read as less severe.
He said his remarks were also fair comment, as his speech was on a matter of public interest.
He contended that under qualified privilege, he had a duty to inform the public on political matters during the elections and to enlighten voters.
In the suit filed in August, Lim sought a retraction of the impugned remarks and a public apology to be published on Tajuddin’s social media accounts, as well as in newspapers and online media outlets.
The former Penang chief minister is also seeking damages and an injunction to prevent the former Pasir Salak MP from republishing any similar defamatory statements about him.
In the statement of claim filed by his solicitors, Messrs Guok Partnership, at the High Court registry, Lim said that on Oct 18, 2022, Tajuddin took part in a forum organised by Sinar Harian, where the discussion focused on the 15th general election.
Lim, who is now the DAP adviser, said Tajuddin accused him of sidelining the Malays during his tenure as the finance minister, further alleging that he had “turned the ministry into a Chinese temple”.
He said the alleged defamatory statements were widely circulated on social media, online news portals, and traditional media.
Claiming that Tajuddin’s statements were a “calculated move”, he said Tajuddin had implied that he had carried out his ministerial duties recklessly and was unfit to hold public office.
He said they also gave the impression that he had abused his position and power by purportedly dismissing Malay civil servants from the ministry during the PH administration between May 2018 and February 2020.
He said Tajuddin’s remarks also created the false impression that he had decorated or transformed the ministry into a Chinese temple.