Published on: Tuesday, March 16, 2010 |
They filed the suit at the High Court Registrar here at 2.15pm through counsel Ram Singh and Loretto Sipin Padua Jr.
They named former SCA Sec-Gen for 2006, Hashima Hasbullah, and its former Deputy President II for 2006, Nordin Thani as the first and second defendant, respectively.
In the statement of claim, the plaintiffs said the defendants had defamed them in various articles in local papers as well as the electronic media on Feb. 3, 4, 5, and 6 in 2009 as well as on Feb. 25 this year.
The plaintiffs claimed that the defamatory words were understood to mean that they (top officials and associates) are dishonest persons and gave an impression that they have cheated the consumers and public in general.
They claim that by the said words, the defendants meant that they are dishonest and irresponsible persons and had abused their positions in managing the affairs of Cash and had committed Criminal Breach of Trust.
Consequently, the plaintiffs claimed they have been greatly injured in their characters, credibility, reputation, embarrassment caused to them, their family and business and have suffered damages and as individuals they have suffered considerable distress and anxiety and have been brought into public scandal, odium and contempt.
Further, the plaintiffs claimed that the defendants published the words out of malevolence and spite towards them (instead of having proper discussions with them to resolve the status of Cash) to purposely annoy and/or humiliate them in the eyes of the public and especially among other consumer movements in Sabah or in Malaysia as a whole.
They are seeking RM19 million as damages for injury to their reputation, embarrassment and distress caused to them, their family and business; aggravated or exemplary damages; interest of eight per cent per annum and also an injunction to restrain the defendants from further publishing the defamatory words or any similar defamatory words against them or Cash.
Meanwhile, Hashima when met by reporters after the suit was filed, said that the filing of the suit by the plaintiffs was good news for her as she said it will be a great platform for her to share her side of the story.
She added that she would file a counter claim once she received the writ.
