Vincent Tan sues Sanusi for RM200 million
SHAH ALAM - Berjaya Group founder Tan Sri Vincent Tan has filed a lawsuit against Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor, demanding compensation of RM200 million.
This follows a defamatory statement allegedly made by Sanusi regarding the Selangor Maritime Gate (SMG) project.
Berjaya Group in a statement said that a letter of demand was sent to Sanusi on Aug 5, demanding that he withdraw his statement.
The company also demanded that Sanusi publicly apologise and guarantee he would not repeat the accusations as well as pay a compensation of RM200 million.
"If Sanusi fails to comply with the demand by August 8, legal action will be taken against him.
"At the same time, Tan and Berjaya Land also filed a police report against Sanusi and several individuals such as blogger Murray Hunter, Badrul Hisham Shaharin (better known as Chegubard), and Raja Petra Kamarudin for publishing defamatory statements against the SMG project," the statement read.
Meanwhile, Tan said that the slanderous statements had tarnished the integrity, reputation and image of him and Berjaya Land.
"These accusations have raised doubts and fuelled suspicion for no reason about legitimate business ventures and philanthropic initiatives.
"We want to convey a clear message anyone who makes any false statement that is false and tarnishes our image will not be taken lightly and we want the parties involved to be held accountable for their actions," he said.
For the record, Sanusi, who is also the Perikatan Nasional (PN) Election Director, is now facing several court cases and a lawsuit.
On July 17, he was charged in the Sessions Court on two charges of uttering inflammatory words regarding the appointment of the Selangor Menteri Besar and regarding the establishment of the unity government in a political talk.
He was allegedly found to have committed acts that had a seditious tendency by uttering words that could spark feelings of disloyalty towards any ruler.
In addition, Sanusi also faced legal action from Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari regarding defamatory speech at the PN BEST Mega Tour 'Sayangi Kedah Sejahtera' at Dataran Darul Aman, Jitra in Kedah.
Sanusi claimed that Amirudin was also involved in a scandal with Tan in the Klang River cleaning project.
As a result, Berjaya Land also made a police report and took legal action against Sanusi's statement which was allegedly made 'recklessly and maliciously' related to the company.
Berjaya Land Group Chief Executive Officer Syed Ali Shahul Hameed said the company categorically and firmly denied all baseless accusations when Sanusi spoke in a speech, on Aug 2 in Kedah.
