By Dorcas Ting
KUCHING, Oct 4: The High Court here fixed May 9 to 12, 2022 to hear the defamation suit filed by Pending assemblywoman Violet Yong against a Chief Minister’s political secretary Tan Kai and Sin Chew Daily for libel over an alleged defamatory statement published in Sin Chew Daily over a road project issue in Batu Kawa.
Yong had filed a civil suit against Tan Kai and Sin Chew Media Corporation Bhd for libel with regards to the article published in Sin Chew Daily on October 16, 2020.
The case was fixed for hearing before High Court Judge Azhahari Kamal Ramli here today but as requested by Tan Kai’s counsel, Shankar Ram, the Court fixed May 5 to 12, 2022 for the trial dates of the case.
Yong asserted that the statements by Tan Kai against her were defamatory towards her personally and in the way of her office and occupation.
On November 19, 2020, the writ and statement of claim were served on both the defendants.
Tan Kai had lodged a police report on Oct 14 against Yong, alleging that she had made baseless accusations over the Rantau Panjang tar-sealed road project costing RM3.3 million.
On Oct 16, Yong was called in to give a statement at the Kuching District Police headquarters.
Yong stood by her statement over the Rantau Panjang road project as the issue was raised after getting feedback on the ground. Through Facebook posts, she questioned the standard of the Rantau Panjang tar-sealed road project by making a comparison between projects done by the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government and the former Pakatan Harapan (PH) government.
Yong was represented by counsel Michael Kong, whereas Tan Kai was represented by counsel Shankar Ram and Sin Chew Media Corporation Bhd was represented by counsels from Reddi and Co. — DayakDaily
