Vincent Tan, Berjaya Land file RM200mil suit against Sanusi

PETALING JAYA: Berjaya Group founder Tan Sri Vincent Tan Chee Yioun and Berjaya Land Berhad have demanded a public apology and RM200mil in compensation from Kedah caretaker Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor for the latter’s recent remarks over the Selangor Maritime Gateway (SMG) project.

Berjaya Land said in a statement their demand comes after claiming that Muhammad Sanusi had made unfounded allegations that Tan was caretaker Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari’s “taukeh” or boss during a Perikatan Nasional event on Aug 2.

The company also alleged that Muhammad Sanusi had made baselessly claim that 600ha of land had been awarded to Tan for “free” while also alleging that Tan would cause RM180mil in losses for the Selangor government through a project around Sungai Klang.

“The abovementioned allegations have been categorically denied by Berjaya Land and a point-by-point rebuttal has been issued via a press release by Berjaya Land on Aug 4 to correct the false and misleading statements made by Sanusi,” Berjaya Land said in a statement today (Aug 7).

The statement stated that lawyers representing Tan and Berjaya Land had served a letter of demand to Muhammad Sanusi on Aug 5 with five demands for the Perikatan election director.

The demands included: the removal and retraction of all defamatory statements referring to Tan and Berjaya Land, a public apology (from Muhammad Sanusi) to be published on any platform determined by the lawyers, the provision of a written undertaking by Muhammad Sanusi to affirm that he will not repeat or publish such statements any further, another written undertaking that Muhammad Sanusi will cease and desist from sharing any such statements in any manner, and an agreement to pay compensation of RM200mil to Tan and Berjaya Land.

It noted that failure to comply with the demands by the end of business day tomorrow will lead to legal action to be taken by the company.

The company added that it had also lodged several police reports against both Muhammad Sanusi and several bloggers, including Murray Hunter, Badrul Hisham Shaharin (better known as Chegubard) and Raja Petra Kamarudin over the publication of similar defamatory remarks related to the SMG project.

“These defamatory and untrue remarks may be considered as an offence of criminal defamation under Section 499 of the Penal Code, that upon conviction, may be punished with imprisonment for a term of up to two years or a fine, or both,” it said.

Tan added that the statements had tarnished both his and Berjaya Land’s integrity, credit, reputation and image while also casting doubt and unwarranted suspicions over their business endeavours and philanthropic activities.

“We want to send a strong message that anyone making false and damaging statements about us will not be tolerated and we shall hold them accountable for their actions,” Tan said in the statement.