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In their statement of claim filed at the High Court here yesterday, they alleged that Sanusi’s impugned remarks on Aug 2 were defamatory and that the remarks had tarnished their reputations locally and internationally.
“The slanderous and false statements also undermine public trust, not only in the plaintiffs (Tan, Berjaya Land) but also in the institutions and government bodies associated with the SMG project, creating a damaging atmosphere filled with suspicion,” they said.
Tan further alleged that Sanusi’s remarks had caused “unnecessary anxiety and concern” for him and his family, who must now live with the baseless stigma attached to these allegations.
Tan and Berjaya Land also said they had issued a letter of demand to Sanusi earlier this week, demanding that he apologise.
“However, the defendant’s (Sanusi) solicitor refused to comply with the request (to apologise),” they said.
Tan and Berjaya Land are seeking an unspecified amount in general, and aggravated and exemplary damages, from Sanusi.
Berjaya Land said Sanusi had, at a Perikatan Nasional event in Kedah, delivered a speech that was “politically motivated, slanderous, plainly false, untrue, unwarranted, unsubstantiated, malicious and mischievous” against the firm and Tan.
They asked the PAS leader to remove and retract all defamatory statements in his speech referring to Tan and Berjaya Land and to provide an undertaking that he would not repeat such remarks.
They also said several police reports had been filed against Sanusi as well as bloggers Murray Hunter, Badrul Hisham Shaharin (better known as Chegubard) and Raja Petra Kamarudin for similar defamatory and untrue remarks relating to SMG.
“These defamatory statements have tarnished my, and Berjaya Land’s, integrity, credit, reputation and image.
“We want to send a strong message that anyone making false and damaging statements about us will not be tolerated and we shall hold them accountable for their actions,” Tan said.
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