Anwar Ibrahim will be an important key witness if there is a full
hearing as to whether Rahim Tamby Cik had been defamed by any
imputation that he had "acquired his property through unlawful or corrupt
means"
Media Statement
by Lim Kit Siang
(Petaling Jaya, Tuesday): The application
by former Malacca Chief Minister, Tan Sri Rahim Tamby Cik for an interim
injunction for a blanket ban on the DAP from making any statement, speech
or reference to the scandal of the 14-year-old girl has been postponed
to September 27 for a full hearing.
I am surprised by Rahim’s defamation suit against the DAP, DAP Chairman
Dr. Chen Man Hin and myself that we have defamed him, whether
in the DAP’s "Support, Sympathy and Solidarity (SSS) with Lim
Guan Eng" campaign posters or the book "Lim Guan Eng - MP in Jail
- Second Edition: Malaysian Dream from Kajang Prison", by using words that
"in their natural and ordinary meaning and/or by inference" meant
that Rahim
-
committed the criminal offence of statutory rape.
-
had an intimate relationship with a schoolgirl.
-
Is guilty of engaging in an illicit and unlawful extramarital sexual relationship
with an underaged girl.
-
Is not a good Muslim.
-
Is and was at all material times a person who is unfit for holding public
office.
-
Is and was at all material times a person who is unfit for business or
professional relationships; and
-
acquired his property through unlawful or corrupt means.
I am not aware that the SSS campaign posters or the book
"Lim Guan Eng - MP in Jail - Second Edition: Malaysian Dream from Kajang
Prison" had made any inference, direct or indirect, that Rahim had "acquired
his property through unlawful or corrupt means".
What is significant, however, is the fourth police report lodged by
former Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on 20th August 1999
that the Anti-Corruption Agency and the Attorney-General’s Chambers had
concluded in 1994 after investigations that there was prima facie
case to prosecute Rahim for corruption and abuse of power under Section
21(2) of the Emergency Ordinance 22 (1970) when he was Malacca Chief Minister
for the following grounds:
-
As Chairman of the Committee on the Sub-Division of Land, Malacca, he approved
an application by Syarikat Dayamik for subdivision of Lot 902 without declaring
his interest in the company.
-
He approved an application by Syarikat Dayamik to change the conditions
for Lot 1727.
-
He did not declare his wealth as directed by the ACA and the Attorney-General’s
Chambers.
-
He made a false declaration to the Prime Minister regarding his wealth,
which is an offence under Section 199 of the Penal Code (FMS Cap.45),
punishable under Section 193.
Can Rahim confirm or deny the substance of Anwar’s fourth police report
on corruption and abuses of power in high political places?
In view of Anwar’s fourth police report, the former Deputy Prime
Minister will undoubtedly be an important key witness if there is a full
hearing as to whether Rahim had been defamed for any imputation that he
had "acquired his property through unlawful or corrupt means".
(24/8/99)
*Lim Kit Siang - Malaysian Parliamentary
Opposition Leader, Democratic Action Party Secretary-General & Member
of Parliament for Tanjong