KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 8): Former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has to pay a total of RM1.35 million in damages for defaming ex-finance minister Lim Guan Eng with his statements concerning tax breaks for Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary’s charity foundation Yayasan Albukhary.

Judicial Commissioner Roz Mawar Rozain ruled on Friday that the DAP chairman had proved his case against the Bersatu chief. 

Lim is suing Muhyiddin over his comments made in March last year that Lim had allegedly withdrawn tax breaks for the Islamic philanthropic organisation.

The Bagan Member of Parliament claimed that the statements insinuated that he had abused his position and power as the then finance minister by authorising the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) to impose tax and penalties on a charitable organisation, when it should not be taxed.

The statements, he claimed, also implied that he was racist and was intentionally targeting the Islamic organisation. 

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