Ramasamy sues senator for defamation

Former Penang deputy chief minister IIP Ramasamy has hauled Dr RA Lingeshwaran to the civil court over an allegation that the former has divided the Hindu community.

Ramasamy filed the writ of summons against the senator at the Butterworth Sessions Court on June 29.

The United for Rights of Malaysian Party (Urimai) pro tem chairperson’s counsel Shamsher Singh Thind confirmed with Malaysiakini that copies of the cause papers have been served on Lingeshwaran, a DAP lawmaker.

According to a copy of the statement of claim, Ramasamy’s lawsuit over Lingeshwaran’s alleged press statement titled “Unite, not divide! Senior Hindu leaders told”.

The plaintiff claimed that he found out about the media release by several journalists who shared it with him via WhatsApp in December last year, seeking his response to it.

In seeking unspecified general, aggravated and exemplary damages from the court, Ramasamy claimed that the statement contained allegations that swirled around his tenure as Penang deputy chief minister II for three terms from 2008 to last year.

The plaintiff claimed that despite a letter of demand dated Jan 3 to the defendant seeking an unqualified apology, retraction of the statement, written undertaking not to repeat the words, and monetary compensation, the latter purportedly refused to abide by the demands.

Besides damages, Ramasamy also seeks court injunctions to compel Lingeshwaran to retract the statement, make an apology to be carried by several newspapers, and deter the defendant from further repeating the statement.

Malaysiakini is attempting to reach out to the defendant for a response over the matter.

The civil court has set July 30 for case management of the suit.

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