SHAH ALAM (Jan 6): Former Ampang member of Parliament Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin maintained in the High Court on Tuesday that former finance minister Lim Guan Eng had dismissed her request for allocation for the construction of 200 units of low-cost houses in the Bestari Jaya PPR between 2018 and 2019.
Defending herself against Lim's defamation suit, the former housing and local government minister denied slandering the DAP veteran. She described her statements in a MalaysiaNow report as a "narration of my struggle to uplift justice for the residents of Bestari Jaya estate".
"The statements were based on my request as the then Housing and Local Government minister at that time and Lim as the plaintiff and the Finance Minister at that time to approve funds for the construction of the housing project,” she said.
‘Why would I lie?’
During re-examination by her counsel Nizamuddin Abdul Hamid, Zuraida reiterated on the witness stand that she was not lying, despite allegations that she was doing so by Lim's lawyer, Datuk N Sankara Nair.
“Why would I lie? I am a Muslim. As I had said, the submission for the Lembah Bestari PPR had been approved by the previous (BN) government and this was verified by my predecessor Datuk Seri Noh Omar.
"I met Lim twice and in those meetings, he rejected my request at that time. I wanted to set the record straight as the present minister (Nga Kor Ming) seemed to be the champion because of the Kuala Kubu Baru by-election (last year).
“How come such a person (Nga) makes the claim just to gain popularity after my responsibility (was done) but was rejected by Lim? I have to put the facts right,” she said.
She also denied that her statements had painted Lim as a racist. “I did not touch on him being a racist. I met him twice and he rejected my request,” she added.
Lim is suing Zuraida and the operator of the MalaysiaNow news portal, MNow Sdn Bhd, over claims she made during last year's Kuala Kubu Bharu by-election, that Lim did not approve the construction of the Bestari Jaya PPR.
Lim, who is an adviser to DAP, alleges that the statements she made was dishonest and implied he was racist, inhumane and meant to incite racial tension. The Bagan MP further claimed the statements also implied he was an elected representative who disregards the welfare and suffering of residents, and that the publication of her statements had damaged his international reputation as a veteran politician of integrity.
Zuraida admits no formal documentation submitted
Under cross-examination, Zuraida admitted that she did not submit a formal "black and white" request for the allocation. She argued that a formal application was unnecessary as the project had already been approved by the previous administration, and that she was only out to ensure that it continued.
She testified to meeting Lim in October 2018 and again between March and May 2019, claiming she was "shot down" both times when she tried to seek an update on the matter.
She also recalled meeting Lim's then-political secretary Tony Pua while waiting for Lim, alleging that he had also told her the request was rejected.
When asked by Sankara if she had diary entries or other evidence of these meetings, Zuraida admitted she had none, but claimed her officer was with her.
Zuraida agreed with Sankara that the Pakatan Harapan government had required all previous projects to be re-evaluated, including the Bestari Jaya PPR project, shifting from direct negotiation to open tender.
“I went back to Berjaya (group) to inform them that the direct negotiation was off, and they agreed to allocate the estate land for the PPR project. Hence, I was just waiting for approval from the Finance Ministry for funds, but this was rejected,” she added.
It was previously reported that Berjaya group founder Tan Sri Vincent Tan had agreed to donate 20 acres of land to the government for the project to resolve a housing crisis for some 345 families of former rubber estate workers from five estates.
In a separate testimony, MalaysiaNow editor Abdar Rahman Koya told the court that his reporter had tried to reach Lim for his comment via calls, texts,and emails, but received no reply. He admitted, however, that the portal did not contact Pua to verify his role in the matter.
The trial will continue on Wednesday before Judicial Commissioner DR Shoba Rajah, with Zuraida's former director general Datuk N Jayaselan set to testify as a defence witness.