Condo row: Kamalanathan files RM1mil suit against Liu

Hulu Selangor MP P Kamalanathan yesterday filed a RM1 million libel suit against Selangor exco member Ronnie Liu over the latter's comments on the Batu Caves condominium issue.

Kamalanathan, who is also MIC Putera wing chairperson, filed the suit at the Kuala Lumpur High Court through the firm of Joseph Iruthayam & Co.

In his statement of claim, he alleged that on Oct 23, this year, Liu had uttered the defamatory words to news portal Free Malaysia Today which in their ordinary meaning meant that Kamalanathan had participated in a Selayang municipal council decision to approve the controversial 29-storey condominium project on Sept 27, 2007.

By that, Kamalanathan (left) said Liu had implied that there was gross impropriety and he had practised self-interest in approving the project to the detriment of the safety of the Batu Caves temple in that neighbourhood.

The Hulu Selangor MP, however, said that he ceased being a Selayang council member in 2006.

He  further claimed that his reputation had severely been affected by the publication, resulting in being brought into a scandal, odium and contempt and may also affect his chances of seeking re-election as an MP in the next general election.

He also alleged that his lawyers had written to Liu on Nov 9, seeking a retraction and a written apology from the Selangor state exco member, which was ignored.

Therefore, he is seeking the RM1 million in libel claim and an injunction against Liu from repeating the alleged defamatory statement.

MIC, BN reputation tarnished

In his press statement in accompanying the suit, Kamalanathan said he had to file the action to protect his reputation and that of the MIC and the BN, which Liu had tarnished and smeared.

"My tenure as councillor had ended then and in no way I could have influenced the decision related to the Batu Caves condominium project.

"I had explicitly explained this in parliament and demanded Liu to extend an apology if malice and gutter politics were not his intention and mentioning my name was an honest mistake.

"However, Liu (right) had failed to reply to my demands. He has left me with little choice but to seek help from the courts to bring the truth out and in order for the rakyat to gauge.

"What saddens me most is a leader sinking to such a low level as smearing, slander and shamelessly lying in order to gain popularity and political mileage," he said.

Kamalanathan said he wanted to clear his name and that he had in no way would he compromise over a place of worship.

"The Malaysian and most importantly the Indian community need to be aware that my involvement in the approval of the project was non-existent from the very beginning," he said.

Compared with opposition leaders who had filed claims in excess of RM10 million to RM100 million, Kamalanathan said he is not seeking  monetary gain.

"I want the truth to prevail which is that in no way was I involved in the approval of the Batu Caves condominium," he said.