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Razman Zakaria, who is also the Perak PAS chief, claimed in a Facebook post on Nov 18, 2017, that Lim was supporting a so-called ban on hotel workers wearing headscarves, with the Penang government in full support.
Lim sued Razman, saying the post was made up and aimed at tarnishing his reputation and making him look like one who had no respect for Islam and Malay culture.
In a ruling by judicial commissioner Amarjeet Singh on Monday, Razman was ordered to pay Lim RM150,000 in general damages and RM100,000 in aggravated and exemplary damages.
Amarjeet also ordered Razman to make a public apology on his Facebook page within the next 14 days and for Lim’s Facebook page to be tagged to the apology post.
Razman was also ordered not to repeat the statement on Facebook in any way in the future.
Amarjeet awarded Lim costs of RM15,000.
Lim had earlier testified that the post by Razman was slanderous and had affected his reputation as well as his role as the then Penang chief minister.
He said he never made any remarks about banning Muslim women hotel staff from wearing their headscarves.
Lawyers Murelidharan M Navaratnam and Felix Lim appeared for Lim, while Mohd Harris Mohan Abdullah represented Razman.
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