BUKIT MERTAJAM — Sungai Buloh PAS chief Zaharudin Muhammad is demanding RM1.5 million in damages from Bukit Mertajam MP Steven Sim for alleged defamation over comments on a controversial Facebook post about a Chinese officer’s promotion in the Malaysian Armed Forces.

Zaharudin, son-in-law of PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, said he tried twice to serve the letter of demand at Sim’s service centre, but found it closed. He accuses Sim of making baseless and defamatory claims that tarnished his reputation and insulted the Armed Forces.

Sim, however, stood by his remarks, calling Zaharudin’s post on Lieutenant-General Johnny Lim “racist, seditious, and treasonous,” and defended the Armed Forces’ integrity and the Agong’s authority.

Zaharudin’s deleted post speculated on a future Chinese prime minister and likened Malaysia’s policies to Zionist actions in Palestine. PAS later disowned the comments, calling them his personal view and contrary to party policy.

The dispute stems from Lim’s historic promotion as the first ethnic Chinese lieutenant-general.