Jahara wins defamation suit against Guan Eng

GEORGE TOWN: Penang opposition leader Datuk Jahara Hamid won a defamation suit against Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng for calling her a racist grandmother.
Judicial Commisioner Datuk Nordin Hassan ordered Lim to pay Jahara RM50,000 in damages with a 5% interest per annum and RM40,000 in legal cost.
In his judgement, Nordin said the court had taken into account the arguments of both parties and found that Lim's statement had defamed Jahara and caused injury to her reputation.
"The words used by the respondent (Lim) are by nature defamatory and has damaged the plaintiff's (Jahara) reputation and standing," he said.
He also allowed an injunction against Lim from releasing a similar statement against Jahara.
The five term Teluk Ayer Tawar assemblywoman had filed a defamation suit against Lim for allegedly calling her a racist grandmother after the state assembly sitting on Dec 9, 2013.
Jahara was represented by Datuk Jahaberdeen Mohamed Yunoos while Lim was represented by Datuk N. Mureli.
In an immediate response, Lim said he had been advised by his counsel to file an appeal against the decision.
"My lawyer has strongly recommended that I file an appeal to the Court of Appeal and I will follow my lawyer advise", he said after visiting the Permanent Park of Food Production (TKPM) in Juru, Bukit Mertajam earlier today.