‘Political frog’ not defamatory term

GEORGE TOWN: The High Court today ruled the terms "political frog" or "frog" were not defamatory but merely labels to describe a politician who hops from one party to another.
In striking out a defamation suit by veteran politician Lim Boo Chang against former DAP assemblyman Ng Wei Aik, Judicial Commissioner S. Nantha Balan held Lim had failed to prove that the words had a defamatory meaning, as it was clear Ng did not label him as an animal with no human characteristics, as alleged.
In dismissing the claim, Nantha Balan ordered Lim, who is former Datuk Keramat assemblyman, to pay RM30,000 in costs to Ng, who is former Komtar assemblyman.
Lim had sued Ng over an article in a Chinese daily on Dec 18, 2011, claiming the latter had referred to him as a person without human character and likened him to a frog.
Lim joined Gerakan in 1984 before jumping to MCA in 1999, from where he crossed over to PKR in 2008, before quitting three years later.
Outside the court, Ng, who is currently Tanjong MP, said he is happy the case had come to an end, and thanked his lawyers Lee Khai and Tham Shirn Shyong.