PETALING JAYA: DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng will sue Bersatu Supreme Council member Azmin Ali for claiming that he abused his power as finance minister during a recent Perikatan Nasional election rally.
Lim also said he was considering a defamation suit against former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin for similar remarks made while stumping for PN.
He said Azmin falsely claimed that he had used the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) to chase down “companies linked to MCA”, impose new taxes on businesses, and levy additional taxes on certain “Chinese businesses”.
He said the other false claim alleged by Azmin was that he had a hand in sabotaging Bumiputera firms such as Ekuinas.
Lim said it was the Barisan Nasional-PN coalition government that had imposed new taxes, such as a sales tax on online purchases below RM500, and a windfall tax.
“I had never used LHDN to target Chinese businessmen. Despite me asking Azmin repeatedly to show proof, he has failed to do so.
“Since Azmin continues to repeat these false facts without showing any proof, I have no choice but to instruct my lawyers to take action immediately,” he said in a statement.
He said he will decide whether to file a defamation suit against Muhyiddin after discussions with his lawyers on Saturday.
Lim said he had previously won a defamation suit against a businessman who claimed that he had abused his power as finance minister by sending the taxman after him.
