By Dorcas Ting
KUCHING, Jan 19: The Kuching High Court fixed March 1 to deliver its ruling in regards to the defamation suit filed by Sarawak Federation of Chinese Associations president Dato Richard Wee against Democratic Action Party’s (DAP) Michael Kong over the latter’s Facebook post made on July 21, 2020.
High Court Judge Alwi Abdul Wahab today fixed March 1, 2.30pm to deliver his ruling on the defamation suit after 14 days of trial and both parties having made their submissions.
The plaintiff had called 17 witnesses, including Wee’s wife Datin Dona Drury-Wee, counsel Yu Ying Ying, Wee himself, former Board of Management for Kuching Chung Hua Primary School (CHPS) No.1-6 chairman Dato Wong Tiong Hook, former Padungan assemblyman Wong King Wei, former Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) deputy director Ahmad Bakhtiar Hamdan, and Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) organising Secretary Datuk Matthew Chen Thin Kong.
The defendant had called four witnesses, including Kong and Pending assemblywoman Violet Yong Wui Wui.
Kong had on July 21, 2020 posted on his Facebook page a statement allegedly containing a defamatory element against Wee.
Wee through his counsel Shankar Ram Asnani filed a legal suit against Kong for general damages, aggravated damages, exemplary damages for libel and malicious falsehood and an injunction to restrain the defendant from publishing, causing to be published, circulating and distributing the said post.
Wee was represented by counsels Shakar Ram, Yu Ying Ying and Russell Lim whereas Kong was represented by counsels Chong Siew Chiang, Chong Chieng Jen, Sim Kiat Leng and Brenda Chong. — DayakDaily
