By Dorcas Ting
KUCHING, Oct 24: A used car salesman and social activist filed a statement of claim in the High Court here against Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Chong Chieng Jen over the latter’s press conference on December 30, 2018.
Chian Siaw Hong, 50, filed a statement of claim against Chong over the latter’s oral statements in English containing defamatory words and publication against the plaintiff made during the press conference at the Democratic Action Party (DAP) office on the said date.
The plaintiff had on February 4, 2019, issued a notice to Chong, who is also state DAP chairman, demanding a retraction and an apology for the defamatory words. To date, Chong has not complied with the demands.
The case was mentioned before Senior Assistant Registrar Sandy Yvette Freddy.
Chong’s counsels Chong Siew Chiang and Michael Kong applied for security for the cost of RM30,000 and striking part of the plaintiff’s statement of claim.
Sandy fixed the dates of November 7 for both parties to file in the affidavit, November 8 for both parties to submit submissions and November 18 to appear before a judge for hearing and to decide on Chong’s application.
The plaintiff claims against the defendant for the following:
— an injunction restraining the defendant, his agent(s) and/or servant(s) from further publishing or causing to be made, published, broadcasted or communicated to any person or persons, corporate(s) the defamatory words that are defamatory of the plaintiff;
— a full and unqualified apology and withdrawal of the said defamatory words, to be published at the expenses of the defendant in one publication of See Hua Daily News and Sin Chew Daily News, a Sarawak daily Chinese newspaper, in a form to be approved by the plaintiff;
— general damages, including the mental and emotional anguish experience;
— exemplary damages;
— total amount the court deems fit and just;
— costs of this action and/or any further relief the court deems fit and proper.
Chian was represented by Counsel Candida Entri. — DayakDaily
