THE Kuala Lumpur High Court today struck out a defamation suit filed by Tony Pua and Anthony Loke against Umno lawmaker Tajuddin Abdul Rahman.

The Pasir Salak MP had accused the DAP lawmakers of attempting to change the country to a republic.

Judicial commissioner Latifah Mohd Tahar allowed in chambers the application by the defence to strike out the suit as it fails to fulfil the legal requirements for a libel suit.

“We didn’t plead that the defendant caused the publication,” said lawyer Farhan Haziq Mohamed.

“Our course of action was on libel and the court is of the view we didn’t plead that in the statement of claim.”

Farhan will discuss the next course of action with his clients.

“We can still file afresh. It’s a matter of amendment, a bit. Or maybe we want to appeal the decision.”

Tajuddin’s lawyer, Hasnal Rezua Merican, did not make any comment.

Loke is the transport minister while Pua is political secretary to Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng. All three men were not in court today. 

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

The DAP lawmakers sued Tajuddin on March 20 over a speech he made in Kg Jawa on the eve of the Sg Kandis by-election on August 3 last year.

They said Tajuddin, in his speech, accused them of being Christians and together with their colleagues in DAP, were working to spread the religion and also abolish the monarchy.

Tajuddin also accused the lawmakers of trying to establish a system of government like Singapore where there was no king or sultan.

They said Tajuddin’s speech was reported by news portal Malaysiakini on the same day with the title “Tajuddin fires ‘Christian DAP’ salvo to close BN’s Sg Kandis campaign”.

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

Tajuddin’s speech was malicious with the intent of tarnishing their reputation in politics and, therefore, they were seeking an injunction to stop Tajuddin from publishing the defamatory words and also an apology.

They also sought general, aggravated and exemplary damages, costs and other relief deemed fit by the court. – July 12, 2019.