SUPP man apologises to Pending rep after parties reach settlement in defamation suit

KUCHING (Aug 29): Datuk Sim Kiang Chiok has today apologised to Pending assemblywoman Violet Yong for calling her “Sarawak Traitor” in a Facebook post on April 29, 2021.

The Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Stakan chairman has also published his apology to the Democratic Action Party (DAP) representative on Facebook, after the two parties reached a settlement in a defamation suit filed by Yong.

Yong’s lawyer Chong Siew Chiang said Sim’s apology is to remain on Facebook for a week.

“After a few days of trial hearing, the parties have reached a settlement. The terms of the settlement are that Mr Sim will withdraw his statement, tender his unconditional apology, and not repeat the offensive remarks in the future,” said Chong.

Sim had made the remark over some issues regarding funding for dilapidated schools in Sarawak.

Yong filed the defamation suit against Sim on May 7, 2021 as she claimed that the “Sarawak Traitor” remark was not only defamatory but also a personal attack on her character.

During the trial, Yong had told High Court Judge Leonard David Shim it is also not of any public policy to call her a traitor.

Apart from Chong, Yong’s other lawyers were Hii Yiik Yew, Sim Kiat Leng, and Sharon Lo Min Hui, while Sim was represented by counsels Tony Ling Lee Tom and Nathan Ting.

In the settlement sighted by the media, Sim said he intended to settle the civil case with Yong amicably.

He said even though the issues surrounding dilapidated schools in Sarawak are of public interest, he regretted offending Yong with his remarks.

Moreover, the remark was not appropriate, he added.

Yong said she hoped the outcome of the case would be a lesson for everyone, particularly politicians, that while there is freedom of speech, they must be mindful not to utter defamatory remarks against anyone.

She said she was glad the case had ended as the time would be better spent to serve the people rather than attending court to settle cases such as this one.