I was main target in MP’s speech, Guan Eng says in defamation suit

 

Lim Guan Eng leaving the High Court in George Town with his father Kit Siang.

GEORGE TOWN: 

DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng told the High Court today that he was the main target in Kepala Batas MP Siti Mastura Muhammad’s controversial speech last year, in which she falsely claimed that his family was related to the late Communist Party of Malaya leader, Chin Peng.

Guan Eng said Mastura’s repeated mention of his name – seven times in total – showed that he was the main focus of her speech, though she also linked his father, DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang, to the late former Singapore prime minister Lee Kuan Yew.

Communism is anathema in Malaysian politics,

 he said during the hearing of a defamation suit brought by Kit Siang, Seputeh MP Teresa Kok and himself against Mastura.

The Bagan MP said Mastura’s remarks implied that the Chinese communities in Malaysia and Singapore were scheming to control both nations through covert means.

Kepala Batas MP Siti Mastura Muhammad (in olive hijab) arriving at the courthouse.

During cross-examination, defence lawyer Yusfarizal Yussoff argued that Mastura’s speech was made in a closed-door event for PAS’s women’s wing in Kemaman and was not open to the public.

Guan Eng replied that the subsequent airing of the offensive speech on a TikTok account indicated that Mastura must have given prior approval for its dissemination.

The fact that it was uploaded suggests clear intent for wider distribution and was approved by Mastura herself,

 said the former finance minister.

The suits were initially filed separately by Guan Eng, Kit Siang and Kok in November last year but were later consolidated into a joint trial.

Kit Siang and Guan Eng had filed suits against Mastura for alleging they had blood ties with Chin Peng and Lee. Mastura had also claimed that Kok is a cousin of Guan Eng’s wife, Betty Chew.

Mastura is alleged to have made the remarks during a speech in Kemaman, Terengganu, on Nov 4.

In her defence, the PAS MP said the facts were sourced from a book published by the Barisan Nasional communications department as part of the coalition’s 15th general election campaign material.

She also cited the same source for her claims that Kit Siang and Guan Eng were related to Lee, and that Kok is a cousin of Chew.

During today’s hearing, Guan Eng also explained the significance of Chinese surnames and their passage through family lineages, after being requested to do so by the defence.

He said while most people would laugh off the remark about the Chin Peng link, those who were obsessed with PAS and living in rural areas might easily believe Mastura’s claims.

When asked whether he had lodged a police report over the book published by the BN communications department, Guan Eng said 

No

, as Mastura herself had handed it to the police when giving her statement.

He also cast doubt on the authenticity of such a document, expressing disbelief that PAS would follow a book supposedly published by Umno but never openly revealed by BN itself.

“Facts are sacred, opinions are free. But her facts are a lie and up to now, she can’t prove that I’m a cousin of Chin Peng and that the late Lee is my uncle.

Not even a single PAS leader has come to her defence to say what she said was true,

 he said.

Kit Siang also took the stand as a witness earlier today.

Proceedings will continue before Justice Quay Chew Soon on Sept 17, where Kok, Mastura and a Malaysiakini journalist are set to testify. - FMT