A defamation suit filed by Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas) against Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua which was filed in January will go for a full trial.

Pua had today withdrawn his striking-out application over the suit, and this paves the way for the case to go for a full trial.

The matter was brought before Justice Amelia Tee Hong Geok Abdullah during a meeting with the parties in chambers, and the judge agreed that all issues in the striking-out application would now be heard and determined at the full trial.

She fixed June 20 for further case management and is likely to fix August or September as trial dates.

Syabas had filed the suit on Jan 28 this year through the firm Sreenavasan and Young following an article published in Nanyang Siang Pau in November titled “Tony Pua: Selangor government must have water rights to prevent price hike”, which the water utility company claimed is defamatory.

NONE The published words in a paragraph meant that Syabas was incompetent in managing water supply rights given its inability to manage its debts, or replace water pipes, and the company was making improper claims to raise the tariff which is aimed for self-benefit and to the unfair detriment of the public at large.

Syabas claimed Pua’s ( left ) statement has disparaged its reputation, goodwill, commercial credit, and subjected it to public ridicule, resulting in it suffering injury to its trade and business.

The water utility company is seeking an injunction barring Pua from publishing or repeating the defamatory words about which it is complaining. It is also seeking general damages, interest at eight percent per annum, costs and other relief deemed necessary by the court.

Qualified privilege

Meanwhile, Pua, in his defence statement and counter-claim filed on March 14, admitted the existence of the Nanyang article and provided its full translation. The MP claimed his statement came following articles which were already published in The Sun, Star and The Edge and also public reports and statements issued by Puncak Niaga Holdings Bhd, which owns a majority stake in Syabas.

In claiming the defence of qualified privilege, Pua, who is also the DAP national publicity secretary and a member of the Selangor government water review panel, claimed that he took reasonable steps to verify his information which was based on the above.

Pua applied that Syabas’ suit be dismissed with costs and in turn made a counter-claim alleging the claim was unwarranted and without basis.

He claimed the Syabas suit was frivolous, vexatious and an abuse of the court process and resulted in him suffering losses and damages as a result of unnecessary harassment and expenses including legal costs after the suit was filed against him.

Following this, Pua claims general and exemplary damages and costs.

Pua was represented by lawyer Ang Hean Leng in today’s proceedings.