AUDREY DERMAWAN
GEORGE TOWN: It is normal for politicians to make statements about their opponents' ideologies and political views, but such statements should not be defamatory, DAP veteran Tan Sri Lim Kit Siang told the High Court here today.
During cross-examination by the lawyer representing Kepala Batas Member of Parliament Dr. Siti Mastura Mohamad, Yusfarizal Yussoff, Lim said that ideological differences in Malaysian politics are also normal.
Lim, however, said he took offence to Siti Mastura's insinuation that he had similar ideologies with the late Communist Party of Malaya leader, Chin Peng, aside from allegations that he was related to the communist leader.
"This is a conspiracy to destroy Malaysia," Lim said before High Court Judge Datuk Quay Chew Soon.
Lim, his son Guan Eng, and Teresa Kok have brought defamation suits against Siti Mastura over her claims they were related to Communist Party of Malaya leader Chin Peng and former Singapore prime minister Lee Kuan Yew.
Today is the first day of the defamation trial involving the three DAP leaders and the Pas MP after all parties failed to reach a settlement back in May. (Hyperlink: https://www.nst.com.my/news/crime-courts/2024/05/1050904/dap-trio-pas-mp...)
Lim also told the court that he had no objections to Yusfarizal's statement that Pas' ideology was to uphold Islam in the democratic system.
He said he also had no objections to Yusfarizal's statement that Pas' ideology was also to implement syariah laws within the framework of the Constitution.
Yusfarizal also asked Lim if he agreed with a previous statement made by a DAP leader that Pas subscribes to the Taliban's views, to which Lim responded that he did not recall the matter.
"I wouldn't have said it. If someone said it, it was up to the court to decide," he said.
Earlier, when questioned by counsel Datuk Sankara Nair, Lim said he was "utterly shocked and outraged" when he first heard about Siti Mastura's allegations against him.
He said the statement she made was reckless without any possibility of being backed by evidence.
The hearing, scheduled for six days, continues.