LIM Guan Eng is taking Bersatu leader Mohamed Azmin Ali to court over claims the former finance minister abused his power at a recent Perikatan Nasional election rally.

In a statement, the DAP chairman said he is also considering a defamation suit against former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin for similar remarks on the campaign trail.

He said incumbent Gombak lawmaker Azmin had defamed him by stating that “Lim Guan Eng used the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) to chase down all companies linked to MCA”

“He said I was responsible for new taxes on businesses targeting particular Chinese businesses. I never used the IRB to target Chinese businessmen. Despite me asking Azmin repeatedly to show proof, he has failed to do so,” Lim said in the statement today.

Lim said that it was the Barisan Nasional-PN government that had imposed new taxes, such as a sales tax on online purchases below RM500, and a windfall tax on corporations.

“There is a fear that salaries (particularly of people working in) Singapore, will also be subject to a similar tax should the current government retain power,” he said.

Lim said Azmin had further defamed him by claiming the Pakatan Harapan minister had tried to sabotage Bumiputera firms such as Ekuinas.

“Up till now he has failed to show proof to back up his wild claims. Since Azmin continues to repeat these false facts without showing any proof, I have no choice but to instruct my lawyers to take action immediately,” he said.

He said Azmin, as one of the principal architects of the Sheraton Move that brought down a democratically elected government, has been desperately trying to shed his “traitor” reputation. 

“Azmin has chosen to target me by making unprovoked personal attacks with lies that are published in MCA- and government-controlled papers,” he said.

On Muhyiddin, the DAP chairman said he will decide whether to file a defamation suit against Muhyiddin after discussions with his lawyers on Saturday. – November 17, 2022.