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In a statement, the Penang chief minister claimed Tan had intentionally made several slanderous remarks about him over a land sale to Umech Construction Sdn Bhd, even though the deal had been dropped.
“Tan deliberately made a slanderous statement in Mandarin during the press conference which was calculated to attack my character, credibility, competency, and capability as the Penang chief minister and Penang Development Corporation (PDC) chairman,” he said in a statement.
Chow added that he decided to initiate the suit because Tan made no attempt to apologise or retract his remarks.
According to a statement of claim made available to FMT, Tan had called Chow “incompetent, ignorant and shameless” in Mandarin at a press conference on Oct 18 last year.
Chow said six Chinese language dailies had reported Tan’s remarks, which were later rewritten by other media outlets. He said the remarks were “defamatory and had disparaged him in his office, profession and calling”.
“The slanderous statement comprises Chinese words that are tremendously derogatory, highly offensive and extremely injurious to a person’s character, credibility and reputation. The usage of these words clearly reflects Tan’s malicious intent to defame Chow,” the statement read.
Tan’s remarks had “decimated” Chow’s standing in the public’s eyes as a chief minister with the character, credibility, capability and wisdom to perform his duties and tasks, the claim further read.
“Tan held (and still holds) an influential position in a body representing the Chinese business community in the state of Penang. He conjured the image of himself as a brave and courageous leader of the Chinese business community able to confront the chief minister himself.
“Due to the display of such bravado, Tan stands to gain in pecuniary and non-pecuniary terms,” the statement read.
Tan is the Penang Chinese Chamber of Commerce’s honorary life president.
Chow is seeking general, aggravated, and exemplary damages deemed fit by the court. The claim was filed by law firm Simon Murali and Co and will be reviewed by the High Court registrar on Jan 24.
FMT has contacted Tan for comment.
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