By Dorcas Ting
KUCHING, July 5: Any Democratic Action Party (DAP) member can reply to the head of a Chinese federation via a Facebook post.
During the hearing of the defamation suit by Sarawak Federation of Chinese Associations president Dato Richard Wee against Sarawak DAP leader Michael Kong over an allegedly defamatory Facebook post on July 21, 2020,
During cross-examination, counsel for the plaintiff Shankar Ram Asnani asked the defendant’s witness, Pending assemblywoman Violet Yong Wui Wui whether Kong as a junior member of the party was allowed by DAP to question Wee in this manner.
Shankar Ram: I put to you that it is now quite apparent that DAP allowed their junior party member Mr Micheal Kong who is the Special Assistant to Mr Chong Chieng Jen to attack the head of the Chinese federation (the plaintiff) by his Facebook post dated 21.07.2020 where scathing remarks and untrue defamatory statements were made against the plaintiff?
Yong: Yes, any member can answer.
During the cross examination earlier, Yong had also answered in the affirmative when asked if she agreed that defaming any person in social media or online news is a very serious matter.
When asked whether the plaintiff had defamed anyone in The Borneo Post online article on July 20, 2020 reporting comments from the plaintiff, she agreed that the plaintiff did not defame anyone in his comments published in the Borneo Post.
When being asked if she knew that Chong had called former Padungan assemblyman Wong King Wei to remain with DAP after Wong had resigned on July 26, 2020, she said she had no knowledge about the time and date Chong contacted Wong. She only knew about it when Chong inform them that he asked Wong to reconsider.
As counsels for both the plaintiff and defendant were unable to finish questioning Yong, High Court Judge Alwi Abdul Wahab then fixed September 12 to 14 for continuation of the trial.
The next witness for the defense will be the defendant himself, Kong.
Wee was represented by counsels Shankar Ram, Yu Ying Ying and Russel Lim whereas Kong was represented by counsels Chong Siew Chiang, Chong, Sim Kiat Leng and Brenda Chong. — DayakDaily
