KUALA LUMPUR – DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang told the high court here today that he never lodged a police report against former attorney-general Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali over the 1Malaysia Development Bhd scandal.
He said this during cross-examination by Apandi’s lawyer, M. Visvanathan, on the fifth day of the ex-AG’s defamation suit against Lim over an article on the scandal before judge Datuk Azimah Omar.
When it was suggested that Lim did not lodge a report because he knew Apandi did not aid and abet in the massive fraud, the lawmaker disagreed.
Visvanathan: I put it to you that you were not brave enough, not bold enough, to lodge a police report at the material time that the then AG aided and abetted in the 1MDB scandal?
Lim: I did not lodge a police report because the AG must be accountable to the people.
Visvanathan: Do you agree that the reason you did not lodge a police report was because you knew at the bottom of your heart that the plaintiff did not aid and abet in the 1MDB scandal?
Lim: It’s not so. I don’t agree.
To a question on whether Lim had written to Apandi previously to seek clarification on the latter’s January 26, 2016 statement that cleared former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak of wrongdoing in matters related to 1MDB and SRC International Sdn Bhd, Lim said he did not.
Visvanathan: As an MP, would it be better to write to him officially demanding a clarification, and if the former AG failed to respond, then you could say, I wrote to the AG, but he refused to respond. That is the proper way, that is being fair, that is about the rule of law?
Lim: With due respect, I don’t agree.
The lawyer said Lim not wanting to get verification from Apandi was an attempt to bring the issue into the political arena, to which Lim disagreed.
On July 5, 2019, Apandi sued Lim, claiming that on May 6 that year, the latter wrote and caused to be published an article titled “Dangerous fallacy to think Malaysia’s on the road to integrity” on the Malaysiakini portal.
He said the allegedly defamatory words in the article implied he was involved in a crime, abetted in the 1MDB scandal, was a person with no morals and integrity, was unethical, and abused his power as AG.
Apandi, who was AG from July 27, 2015 to June 4, 2018, contended that the said words are untrue, and written with the intention of tarnishing his image and credibility for cheap publicity.
He is seeking aggravated and exemplary damages, as well as RM10 million in general damages, an injunction to prevent Lim and/or his agents from publishing the allegedly defamatory words again, and other relief deemed fit by the court.
The hearing before Azimah continues on June 21. – Bernama, April 9, 2021
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