KUALA LUMPUR: Berjaya Corporation Bhd founder and advisor Tan Sri Vincent Tan has issued a letter of demand to caretaker Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor, demanding a public apology over allegedly defamatory claims involving the Selangor Maritime Gate (SMG) project.
Tan as well as Berjaya Land Bhd are also demanding RM200 million in compensation.
In a statement, the company said the statements have tarnished Berjaya Land's integrity, credit, reputation and image.
"These accusations have cast doubt and raised unwarranted suspicions over our legitimate business endeavours and philanthropic activities.
"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," read the statement.
It said should Sanusi fail to comply with the foregoing demands by close of business on August 8, legal action will be taken.
At the same time, the company said it has also lodged several police reports against Muhammad Sanusi, as well as several bloggers including Murray Hunter, Badrul Hisham Shaharin (better known as Chegubard) and Raja Petra Kamarudin over the publication of similar defamatory and untrue remarks relating to the SMG project.
"This will be considered as an offence of criminal defamation under Section 499 of the Penal Code, that upon conviction may be punished with imprisonment for a term of up to two years or a fine, or both," it added.
During the Jelajah Mega PN Best / PN Best Sayangi Kedah Sejahtera mega tour on August 2, Muhammad Sanusihad allegedly delivered a speech that was deemed politically motivated and slanderous.
Sanusi was alleged to have made false and baseless allegations against Tan and Berjaya Land, implicating them in relation to the SMG project.