The DAP man and his aide say they have been libelled in statements about power abuse and graft.
GEORGE TOWN: Seri Delima assemblyman RSN Rayer and his personal aide S Sivalingam today filed libel suits against Penang MIC youth head J Dhinagaran, accusing him of making false allegations of power abuse and graft.
They are seeking an apology and special damages over statements made by Dhinagaran and reported by the Kuala Lumpur Post on March 8 and FMT on March 11.
Rayer and the aide, S Sivalingam, allege that Dhinagaran had “recklessly, wrongly, irresponsibly, negligently, falsely and maliciously” caused his statements to be published in the two news portals.
They are also seeking a court injunction against any repeat of the allegations.
The news reports quoted Dhinagaran as saying a Pakatan Rakyat supporter had written to DAP leaders alleging that Sivalingam, who is Rayer’s uncle, had misused state education funds by allocating RM6,000 and RM3,000 to two relatives.
Dhinagaran also alleged Rayer had admitted in a letter that he had donated a microwave oven to Penang’s Northeast Land and District Office.
Rayer has explained that the oven was his personal gift to the office’s pantry section, not to any particular person and not as inducement to return a favour.
However, he admitted to setting aside RM6,000 as aid for a female student to cover the years 2008 and 2009.
He acknowledged that the student was a distant relative of his, but said she was a needy person and was eligible for the fund.
“The fund was allotted in an open transparent process,” he said. “There was nothing fishy about it. I have rejected applications by so many relatives for similar funds on grounds of ineligibility.”
However, he denied that he allocated RM3,000 to another relative.
Today’s filing of the suit at the High Court came days after Rayer and Sivalingam issued to Dhinagaran notices demanding a retraction and apology.
The MIC man ignored the notices. Yesterday, he lodged four reports against the two at the Penang office of the Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission, repeating his allegations.
In addition to the allegations regarding the oven and education fund, Dhinagaran has also accused Rayer of using his political influence to direct the assistant treasurer of the Penang Hindu Endowment Board to withdraw a theft case against an employee of the board.
“There were reports of the staff pocketing over RM10,000 while money was being counted,” Dhinagaran said. “He was caught and a police report was lodged, but Rayer intervened to get the report withdrawn.”
GEORGE TOWN: Seri Delima assemblyman RSN Rayer and his personal aide S Sivalingam today filed libel suits against Penang MIC youth head J Dhinagaran, accusing him of making false allegations of power abuse and graft.They are seeking an apology and special damages over statements made by Dhinagaran and reported by the Kuala Lumpur Post on March 8 and FMT on March 11.
Rayer and the aide, S Sivalingam, allege that Dhinagaran had “recklessly, wrongly, irresponsibly, negligently, falsely and maliciously” caused his statements to be published in the two news portals.
They are also seeking a court injunction against any repeat of the allegations.
The news reports quoted Dhinagaran as saying a Pakatan Rakyat supporter had written to DAP leaders alleging that Sivalingam, who is Rayer’s uncle, had misused state education funds by allocating RM6,000 and RM3,000 to two relatives.
Dhinagaran also alleged Rayer had admitted in a letter that he had donated a microwave oven to Penang’s Northeast Land and District Office.
Rayer has explained that the oven was his personal gift to the office’s pantry section, not to any particular person and not as inducement to return a favour.
However, he admitted to setting aside RM6,000 as aid for a female student to cover the years 2008 and 2009.He acknowledged that the student was a distant relative of his, but said she was a needy person and was eligible for the fund.
“The fund was allotted in an open transparent process,” he said. “There was nothing fishy about it. I have rejected applications by so many relatives for similar funds on grounds of ineligibility.”
However, he denied that he allocated RM3,000 to another relative.
Today’s filing of the suit at the High Court came days after Rayer and Sivalingam issued to Dhinagaran notices demanding a retraction and apology.
The MIC man ignored the notices. Yesterday, he lodged four reports against the two at the Penang office of the Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission, repeating his allegations.
In addition to the allegations regarding the oven and education fund, Dhinagaran has also accused Rayer of using his political influence to direct the assistant treasurer of the Penang Hindu Endowment Board to withdraw a theft case against an employee of the board.
“There were reports of the staff pocketing over RM10,000 while money was being counted,” Dhinagaran said. “He was caught and a police report was lodged, but Rayer intervened to get the report withdrawn.”
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