KUCHING, March 19: Sarawak United Peoples’ Party(SUPP) Batu Kitang Youth secretary Tan Soon Huat received two letters of demand from lawyers representing Stampin MP Chong Chieng Jen and Chong’s special assistant Sim Kiat Leng respectively demanding Tan to apologise over alleged defamatory remarks he made in a police report, a copy of which he posted on his Facebook profile by the name of Leonard Tan.
SUPP Youth chief Michael Tiang said that Tan would not apologise and SUPP’s legal team is ready to assist Tan should Chong and Sim decide to bring this matter to court.
Tiang stressed that SUPP’s stand is that lodging a police report is a fundamental civil right available to all Malaysians and is indisputable.
“Under Malaysian law, the police cannot make any investigation if no report or complaint has been made.”
He said that Tan lodged a police report on December 28, 2018 with regards to the public funds for grass-cutting matter. Tan had found comments over the matter made by Chong, Works Minister Baru Bian, Pujut assemblyman Dr Ting Tiong Choon, former Batu Kawah assemblywoman Christina Chiew and Sim to be confusing.
“So, Tan lodge a police report on December 28 to request for the police to look into the complaint made. Since when lodging a police report is constituted as damaging to one’s image and character?
“I see no such law that oppresses someone who exercises his or her civil rights that had to face such an allegation.”
Tiang also challenged Chong to table a new law in Parliament stating that lodging police reports against others is defamatory, if Chong thinks that lodging a police report is bad for society.
“This made us wonder, is it under the new PH government that we as the rakyat no longer have a basic civil right to lodge police reports and no freedom of speech?”
He said if making a police report is defamatory, it will be the greater threat to democracy.
“On behalf of SUPP, we maintain and believe Tan has not made defamatory remarks against Chong and Sim in his Facebook’s status and the police report as alleged.”
Amongst others, the letters of demand stated Tan should withdraw his earlier post and publish an apology on his Facebook account as well as a public apology on the front page of two local newspapers. — DayakDaily
