Loke sues lawyer for defamation

GEORGE TOWN: DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook has filed a suit at the High Court against a lawyer over several allegedly defamatory videos uploaded on social media.

Loke claimed that Ang Woei Shang, a columnist for a Chinese news outlet, posted three Facebook videos between Feb 26 and May 8 this year linking the Seremban MP to issues involving pig farming and the alleged corporate mafia.

He said Ang accused him of lying to the Chinese community regarding the pig farming issue and of “protecting” the corporate mafia.

Loke, the transport minister, added that the impugned statements in the videos directly referred to him, with his pictures attached.

He said Ang’s videos were produced in bad faith and had fuelled criticism of him among Facebook users.

“The defendant’s remarks were not based on facts and tarnished the plaintiff’s reputation,” his lawyers said in the statement of claim.

Loke is seeking damages and a public apology from Ang. The court has fixed July 13 for case management.