By Lian Cheng
KUCHING, Oct 21: Former Pujut assemblyman Dr Ting Tiong Choon has expressed regret and retracted the defamatory remarks made against Amanah Saham Sarawak Berhad (Assar) and its former non-executive director Dato Idris Buang in the Kuching High Court today to put an end to a defamation suit that was brought against him.
He issued a statement of regret indicating that he retracted all the allegations and the Facebook posts which had resulted in the suit.
The statement of regret was accepted by both Assar and Idris, who is also Muara Tuang assemblyman.
“I regret that the publication of the Facebook posts has brought the reputation of Amanah Saham Sarawak Berhad and YB Dato Haji Idris bin Haji Buang in his capacity as a director of Amanah Saham Sarawak Berhad at the material time into disrepute.
“I now accept the possible adverse consequence to Amanah Saham Sarawak Berhad and YB Dato Haji Idris Bin Haji Buang in publishing the Facebook posts.
“I did not intend any harm (if any) to Amanah Saham Sarawak Berhad and YB Dato Haji Idris bin Haji Buang, I retract all the allegations and the Facebook posts which form the subject matter of the legal proceedings between the parties and regret publishing the same.
“I undertake not to repeat or publish the same allegations ever again,” said Dr Ting in a zoom court proceeding today.
Dr Ting expressed regrets for four of his Facebook posts dated May 7, 2019, May 9, 2019, May 10, 2019 and Feb 8, 2019.
On May 5, he posted the allegation that “An initial Assar asset of half a billion ringgit was mismanaged and trashed to virtually nil value now” while on May 9, he remarked that “If monies not disappeared from Amanah Saham Sarawak, Sarawak could have bought this superyacht called Equanimity”.
On May 10, he likened Assar to the scandal-ridden 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) and on Feb 8, he made more negative comments on Assar’s project according to the Board of Amanah Saham Sarawak.
In the case of Idris versus Dr Ting, Idris was represented by counsel Shankar Ram Asnani, while Dr Ting by counsel Lawrence Low.
In Assar’s case versus Dr Ting, Assar was represented by counsels Nicholas Wong and Alan Bong while Dr Ting by counsel Michael Kong. — DayakDaily
