Selangor state exco member Ronnie Liu has vowed to challenge Hulu Selangor P Kamalanathan's defamation suit against him over the Batu Caves condominium issue.

Batu caves condo near temple ronnie liu Liu ( right in photo ), who is also Pandamaran assemblyperson, said he had consulted lawyers Karpal Singh and Gobind Singh Deo - both of whom are DAP leaders - on the matter.

"Karpal has advised me to fight the (defamation) claim and I will do so. I will appoint one of them to represent me," he told Malaysiakini .

It was reported on Saturday that Kamalanathan, who is also the MIC Putera wing chairperson, has filed the RM1 million libel suit against Liu over the latter's comments on the Batu Caves condominium issue.

Kamalanathan made his claim at the Kuala Lumpur High Court on Friday through the firm of Joseph Iruthayam & Co.

No longer Selayang councillor

The Hulu Selangor MP had alleged that on Oct 23, Liu had uttered the defamatory words to the Free Malaysia Today website, which the former said in their ordinary meaning, meant Kamalanathan had participated in the Selayang Municipal Council's (MPS) decision to approve the controversial 29-storey condominium project on Sept 27, 2007.

With that, the MIC politician claims Liu had implied that there was gross impropriety and he had practiced self-interest in approving the project to the detriment of the Batu Caves temple.

NONE Kamalanathan ( left ) said he had, however, ceased as member of the Selayang municipal council in 2006.

He further claimed that his reputation, along with that of MIC and BN, had been tarnished from the publication, and it may also affect his chances of seeking re-election as an MP in the coming general election.

The MP said he had explained the matter in Parliament and had instructed his lawyers to seek a retraction last month, but Liu had failed to make a written apology.