PETALING JAYA: PKR's newly-elected Deputy President Rafizi Ramli is being sued by a former chief executive officer of a telecommunications company over claims made against Sapura Energy Bhd (SEB).

       The former Pandan MP confirmed in a blog posting on Wednesday (June 1) that he was served with a writ of summons by lawyers acting for former Sapura Energy CEO Shahril Shamsuddin on May 11.

       "I have taken a stand to defend my statements in court, as the statements concerned are to protect public interest," Rafizi said, noting that the legal suit was in reference to calls of a government bailout of SEB.

       He said that he has since engaged a team of lawyers, headed by Ranjit Singh of Ranjit Singh & Yeoh, to handle his case.

       Rafizi chose not to comply with a letter of demand for an apology and retraction of three articles containing allegedly libellous statements about Shahril.

       Rafizi noted that this is the 14th time that he has appeared in courts to defend public funds in cases such as the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) and 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

       "My return to the national political arena has been greeted with the first court case by Shahril Shamsuddin.

       "God willing, I will continue to voice and protect public funds as I had done so previously, even though forced to face many court cases which were instituted," Rafizi added.