KUALA LUMPUR (April 14): Egg importer J&E Advance Tech Sdn Bhd has filed a suit against former International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Azmin Ali over comments made at a ceramah held in Taman Melewar on March 11 that the company had deemed as defamatory.

The suit was filed on Wednesday by Messrs Hans & Zi, naming the former Gombak MP as the sole defendant.

In a statement, the firm said the cause papers containing the writ of summons and statement of claim (SOC) had been served to Pusat Khidmat Rakyat DUN Bukit Antarabangsa, where Azmin is the assemblyman, and also his residence.

The case management has been fixed on May 16, said Elyse Ng Zi Quan who represents the firm.

The action is filed as the firm did not receive any reply to its letter of demand dated April 3.

In its SOC, J&E Advance Tech said although Azmin did not name the firm in the ceramah, he clearly referred to the company as it was the sole company granted permission to import chicken eggs to meet the shortage.

It added that the words uttered by Azmin were allegedly intended to create hatred towards the company and were in mala fide.

The company claimed that the defamatory words, and their publication, had spun the truth of the matter and spread falsehoods without allowing the company the opportunity to give an explanation.

The company further alleged that Azmin had irresponsibly made the allegation in public to gain cheap publicity, causing chaos at their physical expense.

As a result of the publication of Azmin’s speech, J&E Advance Tech’s reputation was tarnished and became irreparable, and its good name was affected locally and abroad.

The purported defamatory words had also brought the company to public scandal, and was directed at lowering the esteem of the company, causing it to face distress, worry, and shame.

The firm said Azmin had not chosen to retract or apologise on the statements uttered, resulting in the filing of this action.

Hence, the firm is seeking general, aggravated and exemplary damages and costs of the action.

It is also seeking an injunction to be imposed on Azmin or his agents prohibiting them from making, writing or publishing such defamatory words against the company.