THE High Court has allowed former Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng to serve his defamation lawsuit against former International Trade and Industry Minister Mohamed Azmin Ali via substitute service by way of publishing in the media.

Lim’s lawyer K. Simon Murali told Bernama that his client’s application to serve the writ of summons and statement of claim by way of substitute service was granted by the Sungai Petani High Court senior assistant registrar Muhammad Amzar Ismail today.

In the ex-parte application, Lim sought for the documents to be published on the notice board of the High Court at the Sungai Petani court complex in Kedah and also for the documents to be published in The Star and Berita Harian newspapers.

Substituted service is to deliver documents in public litigation in the form of letters to be published in newspapers or any other method that allows the proceeding to gain the attention of the defendant after a personal delivery of documents could not be effected.

In his lawsuit filed on April 17, this year, Lim claimed that Azmin had made defamatory statements against him in an event held at Lunas in Kedah on November 12, last year in conjunction with the election campaign that preceded the general election which was attended by members of the media who were covering the election campaign.

He claimed that Azmin had said that Lim’s “lansi” (arrogant) style had scared the business community which was reported in The Star newspaper on November 13 last year.

In his statement of claim, Lim, who was also former Penang Chief Minister, said the offending statements which made specific reference to his alleged conduct during his tenure as the Finance Minister had injured his character, credibility and reputation.

He said the statements in their natural and ordinary meaning among others claimed that he had abused his power as the then Finance Minister by using the governmental agencies for improper purposes.

Lim said the offending statements were defamatory of him which have disparaged him in his personal standing and in his official capacity and profession.

He is seeking general, aggravated and exemplary damages as well as an unconditional apology from Azmin to be printed and published in The Star newspaper and The Star online. He also sought to be paid interest on the sum awarded as damages and other reliefs or orders deemed appropriate by the court.

Murali told Bernama that several attempts had been made to serve the writ of summons and the statement of claim personally to Azmin that failed. He said he then filed an ex-parte application for the documents to be served on Azmin by way of substitute service. – Bernama, August 8, 2023.