Lim Guan Eng's defamation suit against state BN chief Teng Chang Yeow over the issue of Pulau Jerejak will be heard on April 13, after the Penang chief minister succeeded in disqualifying Teng's legal counsel from the case.

High Court judge Rosilah Yop allowed Lim's application in chambers. Lawyers from both parties were present.  

Lim was present in the court premises and he left after his application was filed.

At a press conference later, Teng said he was puzzled over the last minute application by Lim to disqualify his lawyer K Kirubakaran, as the latter had previously served the Penang government in an unrelated case.

"I knew about the (lawyer's) involvement with the state government in another unrelated case," Teng told reporters outside the courthouse.

"However, I do not mind as I believe in the lawyer's professionalism. The trial will now be on April 13, and I would have to engage a new lawyer."

Teng's press conference was recorded live on Facebook. 

Other than Teng, Lim has also named The Star Media Group and journalists David Tan and Crystal Chiam Shiying as the second, third and fourth defendants.

He is suing Teng for his statements on Pulau Jerejak land sale to a private developer, which he made at a press conference on Nov 15, 2016.

Based on the press conference, The Star published the article titled "Pulau Jerejak land sale questioned" on Nov 16, the following day, on page 8 of its The Nation section.

Lim: Teng's accusations wrong, malicious

Lim described Teng's accusations as "wrong, malicious, false and slanderous" against him, to tarnish his reputation as chief minister.

During the press conference, Teng had alleged that Lim had purportedly rejected a more profitable deal to sell the land in 2013.

Based on sources from the Penang Development Corporation, the state's development arm, Teng claimed the rejected deal would have brought an RM230 million guaranteed profit to the state.

Lim has denied the allegations, demanding that Teng proves the authenticity of his quotes and statements as published in the article. 

Lim is now seeking compensation for aggravated and exemplary damages to his reputation as CM of Penang.

Lim is represented by N Mureli, Edwin Raj and Felix Lim.

In a press statement issued this afternoon, Teng said he wants to put the record straight that his counsel had informed Lim's lawyer in April 2017 that he would be appearing for me.

"No objection was raised then. My counsel only received a letter from the Chief Minster's counsel yesterday, informing that his client, the Chief Minister of Penang, had objected to Kirubakaran as my counsel," Teng said.

"My counsel and I were ready for the trial today but with the objection, we were left with no other choice," he added.

Teng was referring Mureli's remarks in The Star on the postponement of the defamation suit filed by Lim against him.

Mureli was quoted in the daily as saying that "we found out today that he (Kirubakaran) is acting for Teng, but he is also doing some legal work for the Penang government".