PETALING JAYA: Lim Guan Eng has filed a defamation suit against Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin over allegations that the former finance minister cancelled the tax exemption status for Yayasan Al-Bukhary.
Sinar Harian reported that the suit, filed by solicitors Guok Partnership on Monday (March 27) named Muhyiddin, who is also Bersatu president, as the sole defendant.
In his statement of claim, Lim said the former prime minister had defamed him in Facebook posts after being released on bail by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission on March 9.
Lim, who was finance minister from 2018 to 2020 during the Pakatan Harapan administration, claimed that Muhyiddin's statement also implied that he had cancelled the approved tax exemption status given to Yayasan Al-Bukhary.
Lim, who is also Bagan MP, claimed the Perikatan Nasional chairman's statements were made in order to divert attention away as he was in the media spotlight at that time.
"His (Muhyiddin) statement implies that I misused my authority and ordered the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) to impose taxes and penalties on a welfare foundation, which isn't the case," Lim's statement of claim said.
Lim is also seeking an apology and retraction of the allegedly defamatory statements published on Muhyiddin's Facebook and Twitter accounts, which were published across major newspapers and portals.
He is also seeking damages and an injunction restraining Muhyiddin and his agents from issuing, publishing and republishing the alleged defamatory statements.
On March 21, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim confirmed in Parliament that Lim did not revoke the foundation's tax exempt status, which was contrary to Muhyiddin's claims.
