KUALA LUMPUR, July 5 — Dr D. Jeyakumar filed a defamation suit today against DAP’s Sungkai assemblyman A. Sivanesan who had previously alleged the Sungai Siput MP lied in declaring his assets.

The filing was made at the High Court in Ipoh, Perak, over a month after the Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) lawmaker had issued a letter of demand for an apology from Sivanesan and failed to get it, news portal Malaysiakini reported.

"For us at PSM, the annual declaration of assets is an obligation for all members who become local councillors, state assemblyperson or MPs.

"Failing to declare assets completely is tantamount to lying to the people. Therefore, Sivanesan’s claims on May 21 carries with it serious implications.

"It is for this reason that I am forced to file this case against Sivanesan,” Dr Jeyakumar was quoted saying.

According to the news report, Dr Jeyakumar said in a statement that a legal notice had been issued to Sivanesan on May 23, but the latter replied insisting that his assertions were not defamatory.

Dr Jeyakumar then claimed he sought and failed to get the intervention of DAP leaders to advise Sivanesan to retract his remarks and apologise as he was initially reluctant to take the latter to court.

He reportedly sought the aid of first, two Perak DAP lawmakers Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham and V Sivakumar, before turning to party leaders from beyond the state, Kluang MP Liew Chin Tong and Seremban MP Anthony Loke.

Dr Jeyakumar was reported to have demanded no other compensation apart from an apology and a retraction from Sivanesan.