KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court here has dismissed Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng’s bid to halt a RM2 million judgment in a defamation suit against him by the founder of an e-commerce firm.
Lim’s lawyer, Guok Ngek Seong, said Justice Akhtar Tahir rejected the stay application on grounds that there were no special circumstances to suspend the judgment.
“We will file a fresh motion for a stay before the Court of Appeal by this week,” he said.
On March 16, the High Court ordered Lim to pay the RM2 million after holding him liable for defaming businesswoman Jessy Lai and her company, MonSpace (M) Sdn Bhd.
Akhtar had allowed Lai’s lawsuit against Lim over statements he made about her and MonSpace in 2017.
Lim was ordered to pay general damages of RM500,000 to Lai and RM1 million to MonSpace. He was also ordered to pay them another RM500,000 in aggravated damages.
In his ruling earlier, Akhtar said he found Lim’s actions akin to those of a “vigilante”, who was determined to force the authorities to act against Lai and her companies at any cost.
He also said the RM2 million in damages was to serve as a deterrent against anyone who made unfounded remarks in the future.
Akhtar said a deterrent was needed as the courts were inundated with defamation cases.
“‘See you in court’ seems to have become a fashionable statement rather than being something to be fearful of,” he said.
Lim had also filed an appeal to set aside the High Court’s decision.
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. - FMT
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