KUALA LUMPUR (July 28): DAP’s Lim Guan Eng has categorically denied making defamatory statements against controversial Muslim convert preacher Firdaus Wong Wai Hung, in response to the latter’s RM5 million defamation suit notice.

In a reply to a letter of demand (LOD) dated July 28, sighted by The Edge, Lim’s solicitors, Guok Partnership, stated that their client denies publishing statements that are defamatory of Wong and has rejected all of Wong’s demands.

“In the circumstances, our client (Lim) rejects your client's (Wong) demands. Should your client insist on filing legal proceedings against our client, we have our client's instructions to accept service of any legal process,” the LOD to Firdaus’ lawyers Messrs Syahidah, Sharul and Marsyara stated.

On July 21, the preacher’s lawyers sent their LOD to Lim’s solicitors, stating that the conflict stemmed from a reel uploaded to Lim’s official Facebook account on June 24, 2024.

In the video, Lim discussed the sale of pork at RM10 per kilogramme in conjunction with the Dragon Boat Festival (Perayaan Perahu Naga) in Butterworth, Penang. During his remarks, Lim specifically named Firdaus, labelling him and others as "extremists".

Firdaus contends that these statements, whether express or implied, paint him as a religious fanatic and an individual who incites racial and religious hatred.

Firdaus then demanded for a written undertaking to cease publishing any similar defamatory statement in the future, a public apology and the sum of RM5 million in general, aggravated and exemplary damages.

According to Lim’s reply, Lim said his comments were in response to comments Firdaus had previously posted on Facebook and Threads on June 16, 2026, mocking a post Lim had made the day before — written in Mandarin —promoting the yearly pork-selling event in Butterworth.

Wong had allegedly suggested for Lim to establish a "Biro Agama Bukan Islam (B.A.B.I.) DAP" and proposed a programme named: "BABI DAP Menganjurkan Jualan Daging Babi seDAP". (Lit: “DAP Non-Muslim Religious Bureau Organises Sale of Pork within DAP”. Fig: “DAP Pigs Organise Sale of Delicious Pork”).

Lim’s reply contends that Lim, in his subsequent speech on June 24, was responding to Firdaus’ “mocking” and “racial and religious overtone” regarding an event that did not concern him.

“Our client, as a senior member of Parliament, has the right to refute, castigate and reprimand any individual who seeks cheap popularity by mocking and questioning our client, who was then promoting an event which did not concern your client at all,” the letter states.

The legal reply further argues that Firdaus had "selectively extracted" parts of Lim’s response and provided an inaccurate translation of the Mandarin speech published on Lim’s Facebook account. Lim’s team maintains that the speech must be read in its entire context and meaning, rather than as separate, independent statements.

The letter stated that Lim intends to rely on the defences of justification, fair comment and qualified privilege.

Lim’s lawyer Guok Ngek Seong confirmed the letter with The Edge.