KUALA LUMPUR, March 22 — DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng today said that he is lodging a police report against former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to prevent the latter’s claims about Yayasan Albukhary from being used as campaign fodder during state elections that are expected later this year.
Election campaigns should not be based on lies, hatred and fear, he told reporters during a press conference held before he entered the Dang Wangi police station here to make his report.
“If we do not stop this, I think they (the Opposition) will use it in the next state elections.
“I think that is very dangerous,” he said.
He said not to follow the example of former United States president Donald Trump as someone who had campaigned “based on lies”.
The Bagan Datuk MP said that his police report will be based on Sections 499, 504 and 505 (c) of the Penal Code.
Section 499 is the offence of criminal defamation covering situations such as when words are published with the intention to harm or with the knowledge or with reason to believe that the accusation made will harm the reputation of any person, and is punishable under Section 500 with a maximum two-year jail term or fine or both.
Section 504 of the Penal Code deals with intentional insult with intent to provoke a breach of peace, and carries an imprisonment for up to two years, or a fine, or both, if found guilty.
Meanwhile, Section 505 (c) criminalises any statement likely to incite any class or community of persons to commit any offence against another class or community. A guilty charge will be punished with imprisonment of up to two years, or a fine, or both.
Lim said that it was a very sensitive matter as Muhyiddin has accused him as a non-Muslim then finance minister of having revoked the tax exemption given to Islamic charitable organisation Yayasan Albukhary.
He was accompanied by Seputeh MP Teresa Kok, Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii, Bukit Bendera MP Syerleena Abdul Rashid, Bentong MP Young Syefura Othman, Ipoh Barat MP M. Kulasegaran, Ipoh Timur MP Howard Lee, and Jelutong MP RSN Rayer, among others.
Yesterday, Lim reminded Muhyiddin that the latter had until that day to issue a public apology for his accusations and to withdraw his statements or legal action will be taken against him.
Despite Lim’s repeated warnings, the Pagoh MP has said he would not retract his allegation.
Lim first warned Muhyiddin on March 4 that he will take legal action.
Lim said Muhyiddin had failed to produce evidence to support his allegations.
