DAP MP loses defamation suit, to pay company founder RM2mil damages

Kuala Lumpur, March 16 — The Kuala Lumpur High Court has found Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng liable for defamation and has ordered him to pay RM2 million in damages to the founder of an e-commerce firm today.

Justice Akhtar Tahir allowed businesswoman Jessy Lai’s lawsuit against Lim over statements made about her and her company in 2017.

Lawyer Guok Ngek Seong, representing Lim, said that the decision was made during online proceedings this morning.

According to Ngek Seong, the court found that Lim had gone beyond his duty as an MP when making accusations about Lai and her company, MonSpace (M) Sdn Bhd.

Lim was ordered to pay general damages of RM500,000 to Lai and RM1 million to her company, MonSpace.

He was also ordered to pay them another RM500,000 in aggravated damages.

In addition, Lim was directed to issue a public apology to Lai and Monspace within a week from today.

The quantum of damages is believed to be the highest awarded in defamation cases over the last 20 years.

Guok said Lim will appeal the decision and apply to stay the execution of the judgment.

In her lawsuit, Lai accused Lim of tarnishing her reputation and that of her company by accusing them of running an illegal business and cheating Chinese investors.

She said the MP’s statements, published by the English and Chinese media, had implied that she was a dishonest person.

Lai said Lim had made the statements in May 2017 and November 2018 when he took a group of individuals, purportedly MonSpace’s investors, to her office. They subsequently lodged police reports against her.

She claimed that Lim’s statements stirred up pressure from the authorities, including the police, Bank Negara Malaysia and the domestic trade and consumer affairs ministry, to take action against her.

“His actions led to me being prosecuted in court on May 8 under the Direct Sales and Anti-Pyramid Scheme Act,” she said.

NMT