KUALA LUMPUR: Tan Sri Vincent Tan, founder and advisor of Berjaya Corporation Bhd, has responded to the defence statement provided by Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor in the defamation lawsuit related to the Selangor Maritime Gate (SMG) project.
In the 10-page reply submitted to the Shah Alam High Court, the plaintiffs, Tan and Berjaya Land Bhd, asserted that the Jeneri assemblyman had made false, unsubstantiated, and slanderous statements during the Jelajah Mega PN Best / PN Best Sayangi Kedah Sejahtera mega tour on Aug 2.
Sanusi's speech, in which he allegedly stated, "Kita tak akan belah 'taikun-taikun' besar Vincent Tan ka…, kita tak akan belah, kita tak akan beri perhatian," and "Vincent Tan nak buat projek sungai sepuluh bilion, nak dapat tanah 600 ekar di Selangor, sungai Klang, dia punya pasal. Itu 'cokia' punya MB dia punya 'taukeh'," was deemed defamatory by the plaintiffs.
The plaintiffs also contended that Sanusi failed to clarify how they could be construed as the "taukeh (towkay)" of the Selangor Menteri Besar, as mentioned in the Oral Defamatory Statements.
The defendant acknowledged his understanding of the Subscription and Shareholders' Agreement (SSA) dated Jan 27, 2021, but proceeded to make slanderous, false, and disparaging remarks against the plaintiffs.
Furthermore, the plaintiffs highlighted inconsistencies in Sanusi's defence statement, arguing that he had not stated that the Oral Defamatory Statements were expressions of opinion or comment, and that he had failed to take responsible and fair steps to verify the truth before making the Oral Defamatory Statements in his speech.
The plaintiffs asserted that the Oral Defamatory Statements were baseless and solely propagated for political expediency and inflammatory electioneering rhetoric.
They emphasised the significant impact of the defamation on them, particularly during the last hours of the political campaign, which continues to affect them to this day.
The plaintiffs concluded that had the defendant taken reasonable steps to verify the statements, he would have realised that they were false and slanderous, indicating that the defendant knew the statements were not true or at least had no genuine belief in their truth.
Berjaya Corp and Vincent Tan initiated a defamation lawsuit against the Pas election director concerning the SMG project.
Sanusi was accused of making false and baseless allegations against Tan and Berjaya Land, implicating them in the SMG project.
