Court of Appeal upholds ruling that DAP’s Chong Chieng Jen defamed Sarawak government

KUALA LUMPUR, July 3 — — The Court of Appeal has unanimously dismissed an appeal by Sarawak DAP chief Chong Chieng Jen, upholding a High Court ruling that he defamed the Sarawak government and the Sarawak Financial Authority (SFA) over claims regarding state funds in 2013.

The three-judge panel increased the damages awarded to the state government and the SFA from RM150,000 to RM300,000. The court also ordered the Stampin MP to pay RM150,000 in costs to the respondents, Free Malaysia Today reported.

Chong said following the decision that he is considering filing an appeal to the Federal Court.

The suit was filed in 2013 after Chong alleged that RM11 billion in state funds had disappeared into a “black hole.”

The case went to trial in January 2021 and concluded in July of the same year. In August 2022, the High Court ruled that the claims were defamatory.

During the appeal, Chong’s lawyer, Michael Kong, argued for a retrial, contending that the trial judge erred in setting aside a subpoena for former state finance minister II Wong Soon Koh, which prevented him from testifying for the defence.

Counsel for the Sarawak government and the SFA argued that the trial was conducted properly and that a retrial would prejudice the plaintiffs and inconvenience witnesses.