KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 7): Berjaya Corp Bhd (BCorp) founder and adviser Tan Sri Vincent Tan and BCorp's unit Berjaya Land Bhd (BLand) have issued a letter of demand to caretaker Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor over alleged defamatory remarks relating to the Selangor Maritime Gateway (SMG) project.
Tan and BLand are demanding a public apology and RM200 million in compensation from the PAS leader over his remarks on the RM700 million project involving the rehabilitation of the Klang River, said BLand in a statement on Monday (Aug 7).
They want the caretaker menteri besar to remove and retract "all the defamatory statements" he allegedly made against Tan and BLand in a speech at a public event last week by Tuesday, or face legal action.
The letter of demand, served on Sanusi by Tan and BLand's lawyers on Saturday, said the Perikatan Nasional (PN) election director must also provide a written statement that he will not repeat the statements.
Meanwhile, BLand said in its statement that the company and Tan have also lodged several police reports against Sanusi and bloggers Murray Hunter, Badrul Hisham Shaharin (better known as Chegubard) and Raja Petra Kamarudin, over the alleged publication of similar defamatory and untrue remarks relating to the SMG project.
They claimed that the actions of Sanusi and the bloggers may be considered criminal defamation under Section 499 of the Penal Code, which provides for up to two years in jail, or a fine, or both, upon conviction.
The statement quoted Tan as saying: “These defamatory statements have tarnished me and BLand’s integrity, credit, reputation and image. These accusations have cast doubt and raised unwarranted suspicions over our legitimate business endeavours and philanthropic activities.
“We want to send a strong message that anyone making false and damaging statements about us will not be tolerated and we shall hold them accountable for their actions”
BLand's share price finished half a sen or 1.82% lower at 27 sen on Monday, valuing the group at RM1.33 billion. Meanwhile, BCorp closed unchanged at 29.5 sen with a market capitalisation of RM1.73 billion.