By Lian Cheng
KUCHING, March 4: Santubong MP Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar’s defamation case against Stampin MP Chong Chieng Jen has reached an amicable settlement.
This is according to the judgement paper revealed by Judge Dr Lim Hock Leng at 10.30am today at the Kuching High Court.
Wan Junaidi expressed gratitude that the case has been settled as he achieved his objectives stated in his letter of demand following Chong’s statement which was carried by a local English daily on April 1, 2019.
“I demanded YB Chong to withdraw his statement and to apologise in my letter of demand,” Wan Junaidi told DayakDaily.
Wan Junaidi said following the judgment entered by the judge this morning, he has achieved his objective where his honour was restored.
“The statement in the judgment says that I am a man of honour and integrity is tantamount to an apology.
“As a gentleman, I accepted this decision as a restoration for my honour and integrity, and not more than that. This is what the judgment says.
“The claim for damages is not my objectives. Thus, following the judgment, the case between YB Chong and I has come to an end,” said Wan Junaidi.
He said the moral of this episode is as a politician, a person is not given the right and freedom to use profanities and inappropriate language against an opposing person or parties.
Wan Junaidi had sued Chong for calling labelling him a “hypocrite” and demanded damages of not less than RM1 million for defamation.
Following the publication of Chong’s statement on April 1, Wan Junaidi’s legal counsel Wilfred Yap issued a letter of demand to Chong and demanded Chong withdraw the said word and publish an apology in printed media.
Chong was given until no later than 5pm on April 8 to do so. There was no action taken on Chong’s part following which Wan Junaidi initiated a suit against him. — DayakDaily
