Tajuddin succeeds in application to strike out suit by Pua, Loke

KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama): The High Court here Friday (July 12) allowed Pasir Salak MP Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman's application to strike out a suit filed by Damansara MP Tony Pua Kiam Wee and Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook over his claim that DAP sought to do away with the monarchy in the country.

When met by reporters, lawyer Farhan Haziq Mohamad, representing Loke and Pua, said Judicial Commissioner Latifah Mohd Tahar made the decision in chambers after meeting him and Tajuddin's lawyer Datuk Hasnal Reza Merican.

"The court allowed the defendant's striking-out application without costs. The court allowed the defendant's application on the grounds that the plaintiffs did not plead that the defendant had caused the publication of the defamatory article.

"I need to get instructions from my clients on whether to appeal the decision or file a new application," he said.

Tajuddin filed the application last May 8 on the grounds that the words he uttered did not refer to the plaintiffs' post or profession.

Pua, who is the political secretary to Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng and Loke, who is the Seremban MP, filed the suit against Tajuddin last March 20 over a speech he made in Kampung Jawa on the eve of the Sungai Kandis by-election on Aug 3 last year.

They claimed Tajuddin said that they were Christians and were working together with their colleagues in DAP to spread the religion and abolish the monarchy.

Pua and Loke also claimed that Tajuddin accused them of working to establish a system of government like Singapore's where there was no king or sultan.

They said Tajuddin's speech was reported by a news portal on the same day with the title "Tajuddin fires 'Christian DAP' salvo to close BN's Sg Kandis campaign" and was shared 9,400 times.

In their statement of claim, Pua and Loke also claimed that Tajuddin's statement gave the impression that they were using their position to advance their personal political agenda.

They said the speech by Tajuddin was made with a malicious intent to tarnish their reputation in politics and therefore were seeking an injunction to stop Tajuddin from publishing the defamatory words and also an apology from him.

They are also seeking general, aggravated and exemplary damages, costs and other relief deemed fit by the court. - Bernama