Chong has to answer for ridiculous statement

KUCHING: Batu Kitang assemblyman Lo Khere Chiang said it was heartening to note that there are laws in this country and nobody is above the law.

“Honesty is still the best policy,” he said when commenting on the Federal Court’s dismissal of Sarawak Democratic Action Party (DAP) chairman Chong Chieng Jen’s review application on the apex court’s decision which allows the government to sue for defamation.

“Chong made an unsubstantiated allegation that RM11 billion disappeared from the state’s coffers ‘into a black hole’ and he has to pay for his ridiculous statement,” said Lo.

He added that Sarawak was poised to flourish under the leadership of Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg from the rights regained over the control of the state’s oil and gas resources.

“Sarawakians must lend full support to our Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government under Abang Johari to ensure that we pursue our fight as one. Utamakan Sarawak (Sarawak First)!” he said.

In April 2013, the state government and state financial authority had taken action against Chong’s allegation that RM11 billion from the state’s coffers had ‘disappeared into a black hole’, as published in a Chinese national daily and a news portal, as well as in pamphlets distributed by DAP and the Kota Sentosa assemblyman.

The Federal Court on Wednesday threw out Chong’s application for the apex court to review its earlier decision and ordered him to pay RM100,000 to the Sarawak government.

The defamation case will be heard in the Kuching High Court on February 19.