Former Malaysia Airlines chairperson Tajudin Ramli had last week filed a RM200 million suit against news portal Malaysian Insider .

He also named its chief executive officer-cum-editor Jahabar Sadiq and its journalist Shazwan Mustafa Kamal as defendants.

This follows an article which it published on May 31, 2011 entitled ‘MACC clears AG of graft allegations’.

tajudin ramli 1 In its ordinary meaning, Tajudin alleges that the meaning of the offending paragraph is that MAS lost RM8 billion during his tenure from 1994 to 2001.

It also meant that a complaint had been lodged against him for the RM8 billion loss and that he was dishonest and unprofessional in his dealings with MAS.

Tajudin said the offending paragraph had by way of innuendo alleged there were irregularities in his dealings in MAS, he was unfit to be its executive chairperson, and he had perpetrated fraud by making secret profits in transactions.

The tycoon also claimed it also meant that he had been found guilty of improper and dishonest conduct and should be subjected to investigations by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.

It also meant he had received pecuniary advantage or abused his position.

Not defamatory

Tajudin claims they were not fair statements and implied that he was implicated in the investigations against the attorney-general.

He claimed his solicitors had written to the defendant in June requesting the withdrawal of the said words, but in a letter the defendants replied that it was not defamatory, claiming it was in the public domain including in The Star 's report on Dec 16, 2010.

He is seeking general damages of RM200 million, aggravated and exemplary damages, interest and costs.

The businessperson is also seeking a withdrawal of the article.

Tajudin filed the suit on Aug 18, 2011. The suit was filed by his lawyer Lim Kian Leong.

This case has been fixed for case management before Justice Harmindar Singh Dhaliwall on Sept 19.