Segambut Member of Parliament Lim Lip Eng today failed in his bid to sue a former member of the DAP Serdang Baru division over a complaint letter that was sent to the Bar Council Disciplinary Board which he alleged defamed him.

Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Hue Siew Kheng dismissed the suit filed by the DAP member of Parliament after it was adduced that former DAP member Yap Kon Min, who was the defendant, had justifications to lodge a complaint to the Bar Council, which was a fair comment.

"The court agrees with Yap's defence that he did not have any malice and that the complaint was made based on a fair comment," she said.

She also ordered Lim to pay costs of RM20,000 to Yap.

On Oct 1, last year, Lim filed the suit against Yap, 66, alleging that the latter had written a complaint letter, which contained defamatory words against him, and sent it to the disciplinary board on May 14, 2012.

Lim, in his amended statement of claim, alleged that the Selangor Menteri Besar's office, Selangor state Legislative Assembly Speaker's office, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and State Government Secretary had received copies of the complaint letter on May 18, 2012.

Lim also claimed the defamatory words that were directed towards him, among others, alleged that he was involved in financial mismanagement and corruption, abused his power as a politician for his own personal gains and was not qualified to become a lawyer because he was not sincere.

Lim had sought damages, interest and costs and other relief deemed fit by the court.

He was represented by counsel Stella Eng while Yap was represented by counsel Ivan Ho Fook Keong.

- Bernama