Former finance minister Lim Guan Eng and ex-Penang Gerakan chairperson Teng Chang Yeow are ready to settle a defamation suit over the Pulau Jerejak issue.
During today’s online proceedings before a three-person Court of Appeal panel chaired by judge Kamaludin Md Said, Lim’s counsel N Mureli said the parties are ready to settle the lawsuit.
He added that the parties agreed for the matter to be remitted to the High Court.
“We have reached settlement. We have filed a draft agreement for both parties.
“We agreed for the matter to be sent back to the High Court and for the (June 29, 2018) High Court order be set aside,” Mureli said.
Teng’s counsel Harpal Singh Grewal confirmed his client’s agreement over the matter.
Today's Court of Appeal bench, also presided over by judges Supang Lian and Mariana Yahya, unanimously allowed the appeal to remit the matter back to the High Court for parties to settle the suit.
The Court of Appeal today allowed Lim's appeal to set aside the High Court's ruling which struck out the lawsuit against Teng.
On June 29, 2018, the Penang High Court allowed Teng’s application to strike out Lim’s legal action over the article “Pulau Jerejak land sale questioned” dated Nov 16, 2016. The plaintiff had then appealed to the Court of Appeal.
The Court of Appeal today, with the consent of both parties, also directed Teng to pay RM75,000 in costs to Lim.
Following today’s outcome, the legal action will come up for case management before the Penang High Court on Nov 22.
Lim and Teng have agreed to record their consent order to settle the suit before the High Court.
In April 2017, then Penang chief minister Lim filed the defamation action against Teng, Star Media Group Bhd news editor David Tan, and reporter Crystal Chiam Shiying.
Teng then filed a striking-out application on grounds that a chief minister is not allowed to file such lawsuits.
Last year, it was reported that Lim’s appeal before the Court of Appeal to reinstate the suit was put on hold, pending disposal of a separate appeal before the Federal Court.
That was in regards to his appeal in a separate defamation suit against Perkasa and its president Ibrahim Ali.
Then on Feb 26 this year, the Federal Court allowed Lim’s appeal in the suit against Perkasa, ruling that a government official can sue for defamation in his or her personal capacity.
Following this apex court ruling, Lim’s appeal in the defamation suit against Teng came up again before the Court of Appeal today. - Mkini
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