KUALA LUMPUR – Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng has warned Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin of legal consequences should the latter fail to withdraw and apologise for alleged defamatory statements by tomorrow.
In a statement on Facebook today, Lim said that he had discussed with his counsel Guok Ngek Seong the allegations made by Muhyiddin that he had revoked the tax-exempt status of Albukhary Foundation when serving as finance minister during the Pakatan Harapan government.
“Even though I had strongly denied the lies and asked Muhyiddin to show proof and produce the said letter of revocation, Muhyiddin had failed to do so.
“Muhyiddin had also not produced any letter or document from the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) on this matter.
“Muhyiddin persists to insist that I was personally responsible even though I did not issue any letter of revocation,” he said.
Guok, he said, is of the opinion that Lim is legally on solid ground as he had no knowledge of the action, if any, taken by the IRB.
“Muhyiddin’s defamatory statement is clearly baseless and unfounded when the purported letter of revocation of Albukhary Foundation’s tax exempt status by me to IRB does not exist.
“If Muhyiddin does not withdraw and apologise for his statement by tomorrow, I have instructed Geok to start legal proceedings against Muhyiddin immediately demanding additional compensatory damages,” he said.
The decision to take legal action, Lim said, was to rebut the dangerous implications of Muhyiddin’s statement that can inflame and provoke unhappiness that a non-Muslim minister revoked the tax-exempt status of a Muslim charitable organisation.
“I do not want to speculate on the malicious intent of Muhyiddin to drag me into the seven corruption charges filed against him involving hundreds of millions of ringgit.
“What is not in doubt is that Muhyiddin’s series of false statements against me is seditious in nature and can undermine racial goodwill and religious harmony.
“As Muhyiddin is unlikely to withdraw and apologise for his defamatory statements, I will have to see him in court to clear my name and reputation,” he added.
Last week, Muhyiddin had reportedly said that during Lim’s tenure as finance minister under the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government in 2018, the Bagan MP had cancelled the Albukhary Foundation’s tax exemption, which was approved during BN’s time in federal power.
Muhyiddin also said when he became prime minister after the fall of the PH government, Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Albukhary had appealed to him to lift the cancellation. – The Vibes, March 14, 2023
