Azam proceeds with defamation suit

KUALA LUMPUR: Tan Sri Azam Baki is sticking to his guns on not quitting over the shares ownership issue and has instead gone on the offensive.

The MACC chief commissioner has made good on his threat to sue whistleblower Lalitha Kunaratnam and has filed a defamation claim at the Kuala Lumpur High Court against the anti-graft activist.

The suit was filed through legal firm Messrs Zain Megat & Murad yesterday.

The firm confirmed that the writ has been served on the defendant.In the writ sighted by The Star, Azam demanded that Lalitha issue a public apology and pay RM10mil in damages for tarnishing his reputation, among others.

The firm said the suit was in relation to the articles published and republished by Lalitha in the Independent News Services portal on Oct 25 and Dec 15 last year.

“Instead of responding to our client’s letter of demand issued on Jan 6, she has through her lawyer issued a press statement published on her Twitter account, in which she claimed to stand by her publication and re-publication, the contents of which our client strenuously maintains are defamatory,” it said.

The firm said Azam had decided to sue before the expiry of 14 days from the date of the letter of demand to protect his reputation and “professional standing”, adding that their client would not make any further statements on the matter.

“Our client wishes to make clear his unwavering commitment that the MACC will always protect all whistleblowers who fall within the ambit of the Whistleblower Protection Act,” it said.