Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has sued former MCA president Dr Ling Liong Sik for defamation.

This is in relation to Ling's remarks that Najib had taken public funds.

Speaking to Malaysiakini , Najib's lawyer Hafarizam Harun said the suit was filed Tuesday.

Ling is the first BN leader to be sued by Najib.

Najib, who is BN chairperson, is seeking general, aggravated and exemplary damages from the former MCA president besides a written apology.

It is understood that the suit was filed on Tuesday despite Hafarizam's earlier claims that he had yet to meet Najib.

According to sources, the case is fixed for case management on Nov 26 before Kuala Lumpur High Court judge John Louis O’ Hara.

It is understood that Najib complained that the words uttered by Ling meant that he had abused his powers, was not qualified to be the leader of the government, that he was involved in a scandalous or financial conspiracy and that he was not fit to be the BN chairperson.

He said the words also meant that the BN chairperson had misappropriated or abused public funds for his personal interests and to gain wealth or that he had misappropriated government funds belonging to 1MDB and that he had betrayed the trust of the people by abusing his position.

Several others sued too

Malaysiakini contacted Ling's lawyer Ranjit Singh who said his office has yet to receive the suit.

Normally, it takes several days for the sealed copy of the suit to be served on the parties being sued.

Previously, it was reported that Najib had sued PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli, DAP national publicity secretary, Tony Pua, and Taiping DAP lawmaker Nga Kor Ming, among a host of politicians.

He has also sued PAS mouthpiece Harakah over its report on his step-son Riza Aziz and 1MDB.

Najib had also filed a suit against Malaysiakini for two articles carrying readers’ comments over the short-lived Terengganu menteri besar imbroglio.