Lim Guan Eng today has sent out a letter of demand seeking Muhyiddin Yassin’s apology over the allegation that the former had cancelled the tax-exemption status of the Albukhary Foundation.
The former premier claimed that this was done during Lim’s tenure as finance minister.
Lim’s counsel Guok Ngek Seong confirmed that the legal letter has been issued demanding Muhyiddin (above, right) to make a full and unequivocal public retraction and apology within seven days.
According to a copy of the letter of demand sighted by Malaysiakini, the other party has acknowledged and signed it as having been received.
On March 11, the former Penang chief minister gave Muhyiddin until today to apologise for his remarks.
Through the legal letter which was also uploaded to his Facebook account, Lim is seeking the Bersatu president’s apology over three purportedly defamatory statements.
The first was a statement carried on Muhyiddin’s Facebook on March 10, the second was a media statement carried on the same social media account on March 11, and the third was his statement to journalists on March 12.
‘Malicious, politically motivated’
Lim claimed that the statements were defamatory and had implied among others that he had abused his power at the time by directing the Inland Revenue Board to impose tax and penalties on the welfare foundation when such an organisation was not liable to taxation.
The DAP chairperson not only denied the allegations but also claimed that they were politically motivated with the malicious intention to tarnish his image by painting him as racist and anti-Islam.
Lim maintained that in the decades he has been an active politician, he had demonstrated through actions and conduct to defend the rights of every ethnic group irrespective of faith.
Besides the seven-day ultimatum for the retraction and apology on terms he will determine, Lim also sought an undertaking for Muhyiddin to not repeat the allegations.
Lim also invited Muhyiddin to propose a sum of compensation to be paid to the former (subject to Lim’s agreement).
The DAP politician warned that if no satisfactory reply is forthcoming within seven days from today, his legal team from law firm Guok Partnership will file a writ of summons to seek appropriate remedies.
Malaysiakini has reached out to Muhyiddin’s legal team for a response over the matter. - Mkini
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