Photo Credit: Getty Images
Former Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has been dealt a legal setback after a Kuala Lumpur court ordered him to pay 1.35 million ringgit ($308,078) in damages for defaming former Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng. The ruling, issued by the Kuala Lumpur High Court on Friday, requires Muhyiddin to retract his defamatory statements against Lim and prohibits him from making similar claims in the future, according to state media.
The defamation suit stems from a series of Facebook posts Muhyiddin made in March 2023, in which he accused Lim of abusing his position as Finance Minister from 2018 to 2020 by allegedly revoking a tax exemption for a charitable organization. Lim argued that these accusations were false and intended to tarnish his reputation. On Friday, Lim expressed his relief over the ruling, noting that the claims against him were "false and baseless."
Muhyiddin's lawyer, Chetan Jethwani, was reported to be planning an appeal against the court's decision. However, Jethwani was not immediately available for comment. This case adds to a growing list of legal challenges facing Muhyiddin, who served as Malaysia's prime minister for 17 months between 2020 and 2021. Besides the defamation case, Muhyiddin is also facing sedition charges related to allegedly insulting a former king, as well as accusations of corruption and money laundering in separate cases.
The outcome of these cases could significantly impact Muhyiddin's political career and his standing within Malaysia's opposition. As the former leader navigates these legal battles, the defamation ruling underscores the legal and political hurdles he faces in his ongoing efforts to maintain influence in Malaysian politics.
