NST, Aug 26 2008

KUALA LUMPUR: Former MIC Youth chief S. Vigneswaran has filed a RM11 million defamation suit against MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu and three others.

The three are Star Publications Bhd, its group editor Datuk Wong Chun Wai and writer A. Letchumanan.

Vigneswaran filed the suit yesterday afternoon at the High Court registry through Tetuan Vas & Co.

Vigneswaran said in his statement of claim that an article which appeared in The Star on July 7 was libellous and had affected his credibility and good name.

He contended that the words uttered by Samy Vellu at the opening of the MIC Wanita, Youth, Puteri and Putera MIC wings' annual general assembly on July 6 were malicious and slanderous.
"The defamatory words were repeated in an article written by the journalist, edited by Wong and published by The Star."

Vigneswaran claimed that the article had tarnished his reputation, that as the former youth and sports parliamentary secretary he did not do anything beneficial for the Indian community, he was not trustworthy, he had misused his position in the party, he was involved in the underworld, he encouraged vice activities and he did not have a stable family.

Vigneswaran also sought aggravated and exemplary damages, an injunction against the four defendants from further publishing the defamatory words, costs and other relief deemed fit by the court.