Selangor MCA Beliawanis chief Jessie Ooi today vowed to take legal action against critics who defamed her on the Internet.

Ooi said in a statement today that several Facebook users have defamed and slandered her by attributing false statements to her, causing severe damage to her reputation.

jessie ooi 05 "I welcome any criticism and efforts to correct my remarks, but please do not use words that are humiliating, insulting or words that can be deemed as sexual harassment.

"Also, do not post doctored photographs or edited video clips to launch personal attacks against me."

Ooi claimed that some Facebook users have also uploaded photographs of her and her family.

"Please direct whatever criticism towards me and do not harm my family," she said in her first public statement after the Feb 18 debate between MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng.

Admits to being emotional

During the televised debate, Ooi had posed a question to Lim. Scores of Facebook users later questioned the logic of her question and pointed out flaws in the assertions she made.

Ooi explained that her question was not put across appropriately because of the time constraint and that she had become emotional.

"Due to the time constraint, I could not clearly convey my message. I admit that I was emotional then, causing confusion and misunderstanding to many quarters," she said.

After the debate, she said, she received more than 1,000 phone calls and text and voice messages condemning her. She said some of the callers sexually harassed her and threatened to boycott her family business.

"To protect the safety and reputation of my family and myself, I lodged a report at the Gombak district police headquarters. My family and I will definitely take legal action to protect my family and me," said Ooi.

Facebook page temporarily suspended

Ooi said that although she respects the rights of her critics, such rights should not be abused to defame her and deceive the public.

"If we continue to condone these defamatory remarks, there will be more victims in the future, and our Internet will be full of such violent, defamatory and insulting language," she said.

Ooi also admitted that she had suspended her Facebook fan page for a while because she was unable to deal with the deluge of comments that have been posted.

"But later, I re-activated my Facebook page because I am willing to face criticism and listen to the people. I understand that I must explain the truth instead of running away from it. This is the principle of a democratic society," she said.

Little known Ooi shot to fame during the debate after her emotional tirade against Lim and local council enforcement officers who towed away illegally parked cars in Penang at night.

Coupled with higher assessment rates, Ooi argued that Lim's administration had failed in its promise to make life easier for the voters.

Related stories

Jessie Ooi defends poser to Guan Eng

Ku Nan moots Anwar-Saiful debate instead

Dr M's contradictory take on debates

The Star says sorry for 'Malay PM' mistake

The time has come for more public debates

Of press prostitutes and cowed media

Confirmed - another MCA-DAP debate in NS

Debate: Politics of thuggery wins the day