Company sends demand letter to MP, wants apology over his claims

KUALA LUMPUR: Multi-level marketing company Monspace is fighting back allegation of illegality by issuing a legal demand to its accuser.

Former Inspector-General of Po­­lice Tan Sri Musa Hassan and Mon Space (M) Sdn Bhd CEO Datuk Seri Jessy Lai have demanded that DAP’s Lim Lip Eng apologise over statements he alle­gedly made about them at a press conference recently.

In a letter of demand yesterday from Messrs Shafee & Co, Musa, who is the Monspace Net Inc president, and Lai want Lim to make a full and complete withdrawal and apology, and a public statement within seven days.

Lim allegedly made the statements at a press conference on May 13, where he was said to have insinuated that Musa and the company had been bribing or paying protection money to various government institutions such as Bank Negara and the police.

Lim also allegedly insinuated that Musa and Lai have been running an illegal business, that their company Monspace was “blacklisted by the authorities” and that Musa, Lai and Monspace were “dishonest, ruthless, and not a credible company or individuals”.

The statements were allegedly made in Mandarin and published in the GuangMing Daily newspaper website.

“Our clients, being a renowned multinational corporation, and individuals have suffered injury to their image and reputation, especially among their customers and the public as a result of the defamatory statements made by you,” said the letter of demand by Monspace.

Lim, the Segambut MP, was also re­­quired to give his written assu­rance and undertaking that he would not further publish his statements or any similar articles concerning Musa, Lai and Monspace, or he would face legal action.

On Monday, 19 Chinese nationals lodged reports at the Dang Wangi police station against Lai, claiming that they lost hundreds of thousands of ringgit by investing in the scheme by Monspace last year.

They claimed to have lost between 100,000 and 700,000 yuan (RM62,536 and RM437,754).

Yesterday, Lim accompanied the 19 to Monspace Sdn Bhd’s office in Bukit Jalil to demand a refund or an explanation about what happened to their investments.

Monspace supporters, who were at the office, booed and jeered at them. Some of the supporters also shouted at the group. They only quietened when Lai arrived.

Lim told Lai to provide proof that her company was not an illegal financial scheme ope­rator.

Lai replied that the company was legitimate and registered with the Companies Commission of Malaysia.

She acknowledged that the company was on Bank Negara Malaysia’s updated Financial Consumer Alert list, but stressed it was not blacklisted.

Lai said Monspace was involved in online marketing.

When contacted, Lim said: “I haven’t actually seen the letter, I can only just confirm that I have received the letter. My lawyers will deal with the letter of demand.”