Penang CM testifies in defamation suit

GEORGE TOWN: Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng on Jan 19 told the High Court that an article published in news portal Free Malaysia Today (FMT) on Dec 6, 2013, had defamed him.
He said the article was written without the writer seeking his comment or clarification during his testimony.
"It was trying to defame me as chief minister and as an individual," he said in the court presided by Judicial Commissioner Datuk Nordin Hassan.
Lim filed suit following the publication of the article titled "Guan Eng has failed, says NGO".
The report by FMT journalist Athi Shankar had quoted Citizen Awareness Chant Group (CHANT) adviser Jimmy Lim Cheok Siang.
During examination by defence counsel Clement Lopez, Lim had denied he allowed the heritage and environment of Penang to be damaged.
He also said the delay in implementing the local plan was due to having to comply with UNESCO requirements for a special area plan (SAP) for the George Town heritage site.
"That suggestion is wrong," he said in response after it was put to him that the state was not serious about implementing the local plan.
Acting for Lim was Datuk N. Mureli while Lopez represented MToday News Sdn Bhd and Athi, whose real name is S. Karunakaran, while Jimmy was defended by Baljit Singh and V. Amareson.
Nordin adjourned the hearing to Feb 27 for the defence to reply.