Judge recuses self from hearing Azeez’s appeal against Penang High Court ruling

PUTRAJAYA – Court of Appeal Judge Datuk Vazeer Alam Mydin Meera has recused himself from hearing Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim’s appeal against the Penang High Court’s ruling over the dismissal of his suit against Lim Guan Eng in connection with the construction of the Penang undersea tunnel project.

Justice Vazeer, who chaired a three-member bench, said he decided to recuse himself from hearing the appeal, as he had some connection with the parties involved when he was in practice.

“Thus, we adjourned today’s hearing to another date, which will be fixed later by the registrar,” said the judge at the start of the proceeding, which was conducted virtually.

The other two judges on the bench were Datuk Hadhariah Syed Ismail and Datuk Seri Mariana Yahya.

Today, the court was scheduled to hear the Baling MP’s appeal against the Penang High Court’s decision, made on November 12, 2020, which dismissed his suit against the former Penang chief minister in connection with the construction of the Penang undersea tunnel project.

Counsel Datuk Porres Royan appeared for Azeez, while Lim was represented by lawyer N. Mureli.

Azeez filed the suit in March 2018, claiming that Lim, who was then the finance mnister, had issued defamatory statements during a press conference at the Penang Chief Minister’s office on Feb 28, 2018, and during a Chinese New Year open house hosted by the Penang Development Corporation on the same day, connecting him (Azeez) with a payment of RM3 million in consultation fee by the developer of the undersea tunnel project.

Azeez claimed the statements gained widespread coverage and were published on a number of websites, electronic news sites and local newspapers, and is thus seeking, among others, general and exemplary damages and other relief deemed fit by the court.

He also applied for an injunction to prevent the defendant from republishing the statements. – Bernama, September 8, 2022