KUALA LUMPUR (June 14): Former minister Datuk Seri Azmin Ali has entered an appearance in a defamation suit against him by a local egg importer.
Law firm Sasha Lyna & Partners will represent the Bersatu leader, who is being sued by J&E Advance Tech Sdn Bhd, for his comments that the company had obtained a contract through direct negotiation with the government to import eggs from India.
According to court filings, the memorandum of appearance was filed on Tuesday (June 13) afternoon.
It was previously reported that the company filed for judgment in default of appearance (JID) on June 12 against the former international trade and industry minister as he had not entered an appearance in the legal action.
In a message to the media, lawyer Tan Han Sam, representing J&E Advance, said a case management was held earlier this week over the matter.
Despite the memorandum of appearance, Tan said they have been instructed by their clients to proceed with the JID as they argue that Azmin's appearance was entered out of time.
He added that as the former minister's lawyer had raised objections to this, the matter will now be brought before Judicial Commissioner Leong Wai Hong for determination.
A case management has been set for July 14 over the JID application.
In late April, the High Court gave permission for the company to serve the writ of summons to Azmin through local newspapers after numerous failed attempts to serve the court papers personally to Azmin.
J&E Advance Tech's suit, filed in April through Law Chambers of Han & Zi, revolves around the Perikatan Nasional (PN) information chief's comments during a political talk (ceramah) in March.
In its statement of claim, the company said although Azmin did not name it in the ceramah, he clearly referred to the firm as it was the sole company allowed to import chicken eggs as a temporary measure to meet a domestic shortage.
The company said Azmin's statements, published by the media and also available on YouTube, were untrue as the company was never involved nor had links with whatever direct negotiations with the Malaysian government.
It added that the words uttered by Azmin were allegedly intended to create hatred towards the company and were made in bad faith.
The company 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.
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