FORMER finance minister Lim Guan Eng has sent out a letter of demand seeking an apology from Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin over the allegation that the former had revoked the tax exemption status of the Albukhary Foundation.
The former prime minister, who made the claim at a press conference outside the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) headquarters in Putrajaya on March 9, alleged that the cancellation was done during Lim’s tenure as finance minister of the first Pakatan Harapan administration.
Muhyiddin had reiterated the same allegation at a PAS centre in Taman Melewar, Gombak in Selangor on the same night.
Lim’s counsel Guok Ngek Seong confirmed that the legal letter had been issued demanding the Pagoh MP to make a full and unequivocal public retraction and apology within seven days.
In addition to the seven-day ultimatum for the retraction and apology on terms he will determine, the DAP politician further 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).
Lim 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.
False, malicious allegations
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.
Calling the statements “false and malicious”, Lim said they implied, among other things, 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 Bagan MP 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.
“The allegations made against our client are false and malicious. Your attacks on our client were wholly unjustified. There was no reason whatsoever to drag and ‘sling political muds’ at our client when you are facing criminal charges in Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court and Shah Alam Sessions Court,” the letter of demand read.
“Besides, there was no connection between your corruption and/or money laundering charges with the false and malicious defamatory statements issued by you against our client.” – March 15, 2023
