By Dorcas Ting
KUCHING, Feb 17: The High Court here fixed October 4 to 7 and Oct 11 to 14 to hear the suit filed by Pending assemblywoman Violet Yong against Sarawak Chief Minister’s political secretary Tan Kai and Sin Chew Daily for libel over an alleged defamatory statement published in the Chinese 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 regard to the article published in Sin Chew Daily on October 16, 2020.
High Court Judge Azhahari Kamal Ramli today fixed Oct 4 to 7 and Oct 11 to 14 to hear the case. Judge Azhahari also ordered the volume of documents to be filed and exchanged by August 4.
Yong believes that the statements by Tan Kai against her were defamatory and in the way of her office and occupation.
On November 19, 2020, the writ and statement of claim were served on both defendants.
Tan Kai had lodged a police report on Oct 14 against Yong, alleging that she had made baseless accusation over the substandard Rantau Panjang tar-sealed road project costing RM3.3 million.
On Oct 16, Yong was called 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. She shared in her Facebook posts questioning the substandard 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.
Violet Yong was represented by counsels Michale 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
