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Chong (seated fourth left) and his supporters at the gathering.
KUCHING (Dec 23): Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen has received strong support from party members and supporters in Kuching as he prepares to appeal a High Court ruling ordering him to pay RM500,000 in damages and costs to Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian.
In a joint statement, the group said they respected Malaysia’s judicial system and acknowledged that legal disputes should be resolved through established processes.
However, as the case enters the appeal stage, they believe it is important for the relevant legal and constitutional principles to be reviewed at a higher level.
“We maintain that this case does not arise from a private dispute, but from issues of public governance and livelihood during the Movement Control Order (MCO) in 2020. At that time, society faced unprecedented challenges, with many families experiencing severe economic hardship.
“The implementation and distribution of government assistance naturally became a matter of deep public concern,” said the group in the statement following a solidarity gathering titled “Defending Free Speech, Standing with Chong Chieng Jen”.
They added that Chong, as an MP and opposition leader, had raised questions about the execution of government assistance measures during the pandemic as part of his constitutional duty to scrutinise government actions and represent his constituents.
They said public accountability, transparent governance and the right to raise reasonable questions are fundamental pillars of a democratic system.
“We also note that during a period when many were facing food insecurity and livelihood pressures, society holds higher expectations of public office holders, particularly those within the executive branch.
“The public expects ministers to prioritise coordination and problem-solving, rather than allowing issues of public accountability to escalate into political or legal contention,” they added.
They stressed that their support for Chong’s decision to appeal was not directed at any judicial institution or decision.
While respecting the role of the courts, they said a mature democratic society must safeguard space for reasonable questioning and public oversight by elected representatives.
The group reiterated their commitment to addressing livelihood issues, upholding the principle of accountability and advocating, through lawful means, for the rights and welfare of the people of Sarawak.
Meanwhile, Chong, in his remarks, thanked party members and supporters who gathered in solidarity, saying their presence encouraged him to continue his political work.
“I want to assure Sarawakians that in any democracy, you need opposition. A democracy without opposition is tyranny,” he said, reiterating his commitment to continue fighting for what he described as the people’s rights.
He also acknowledged long-serving party members whose continued support has strengthened his resolve.
Chong confirmed that he will be appealing the High Court decision, describing the case as arising from his criticism of what he viewed as an unfair state policy during the MCO.
Reflecting on his political journey, Chong cited a series of legal challenges since first being elected as a state assemblyman in 2006, including an election petition, police seizure of his laptop, and prosecution over the Bersih 4.0 rally — all of which were eventually resolved in his favour.
He also referenced the long-running “Black Hole” trust fund case involving an alleged RM11 billion, which has taken over a decade to litigate and is currently under appeal.
“Being in the opposition in Sarawak is not an easy task,” he said, adding that opposition leaders faced political, economic and legal pressures.
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