Ex-Teratai rep Jenice Lee to claim more than RM1mil in defamation suit

(NST) – Former Teratai assemblyman Jenice Lee Ying Ha intends to claim more than RM1 million in her defamation suit against DAP acting national chairman Tan Kok Wai for allegedly accusing her of corruption, abuse of power and embezzlement.

As such, her counsel Michael Wong submitted to High Court judicial commissioner Vazeer Alam Mydin Meera that the matter should be heard at a High Court.

“This is a public interest case and this matter should be heard here (High Court), as the jurisdiction of Sessions Civil Court judges were only to hear claims up to RM1 million,”he told reporters outside the courtroom today.

Wong said he had submitted as such after Vazeer questioned why the case was not filed at a lower court.

He added Lee had another defamation suit filed at a High Court here.

After hearing submissions from both parties in his chambers during case management today, Vazeer reserved his decision.

The court fixed May 8 for case management again.

Lawyer Eric Tan appeared for Tan, who is also DAP’s disciplinary committee chairman.

In her statement of claim dated Sept 19 last year, Lee said a statement containing defamatory words against her was published in Chinese newspapers and on the Internet.

The statement implied that Lee was a bad character and should not be elected by voters during her contest as an independent candidate for Teratai state seat in the 2013 general election.

She also claimed Tan held a press meet at the Taman Muda market situated in the Teratai state constituency on Apr 23 last year and accused her of misconduct.

She added that Tan had issued a show cause letter and terminated her membership on Oct 7 and Oct 30 last year.

The former DAP publicity secretary is seeking general, aggravated and exemplary damages, interest, costs and an injunction to stop Tan from repeating the statement against her in any manner as such statements had tarnished her integrity and reputation.