Dr Sim’s defamation suit: FB posts by Chong not directed at Deputy Premier

KUCHING (July 26): The High Court here was told today that the Facebook posts by Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen regarding the Covid-19 food aid drive in 2020 were not targeting Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian.

Chong further said the posts were the gist of the criticism targeted at the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS)-led government’s unfair policy.

Earlier, counsel for the plaintiff (Dr Sim), Shankar Ram, had put to Chong that Dr Sim was never granted ‘over the use of a total RM1 million allocation by the state government’, to which Chong disagreed.

“I disagree as the person is in charge of this service centre, not only was his name appear as the ADUN (elected representative) with the RM1 million food aid allocation, it was also specifically mentioned that the plaintiff’s service centre was to manage the purchase of the food aid and claim reimbursement of the purchase price if it had been paid by the service centre, or direct the divisional disaster management committee to make payment for the purchase of the food.

“An ADUN is the person who has the final say of his service centre. The Plaintiff is the ADUN for Batu Kawah; thus, the person who has the final say and the final decision-making authority for his service centre for Batu Kawah,” argued Chong.

Shankar further put to Chong that he did not draw any distinction between Dr Sim and his service centre.

Chong testified that there was no distinction as the allocation was granted to the GPS assemblymen for the purchase of food.

Chong said referring to an official memorandum from the Ministry of Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development of Sarawak, the plaintiff’s name was mentioned where he was granted RM1 million of the allocation.

In 2020, Dr Sim, Batu Kawah assemblyman and also president of Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) president, filed the suit over Chong’s allegation that the deputy premier had failed to manage food aid funds worth RM800,000 meant for four opposition-held state constituencies: Padungan, Batu Lintang, Pending and Kota Sentosa.

Chong was represented by counsels Michael Kong, Chong Siew Chiang, Brenda Chong and Sharon Lo.

Apart from Shankar, Dr Sim was also represented by Lai Eddy.

The suit was heard before Judge Dr Alwi Abdul Wahab.