KUCHING: “I have not spoken to my boss about this matter yet, and there is no specific date when I can discuss it with him,” said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas when asked on the Constitution Bill (Amendment 2019), which failed to garner two-third vote majority in the Dewan Rakyat last Tuesday.
According to him, the matter should be discussed with Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg first before any statement can be issued.
He said this at Kuching High Court yesterday after attending a summons case against Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) information chief, Vernon Kedit.
Uggah, who is also Bukit Saban assemblyman and the plaintiff in the case, filed a defamation suit against Vernon for calling him a “liar” and a “traitor”.
Uggah claimed the highly defamatory labels were published widely on “PKR Sarawak State Media” WhatsApp chat group late last year.
Vernon claimed that Uggah was “lying” when he interpreted usufructuary right as a right that one can own and also use, which Uggah had vehemently denied.
It was claimed that Vernon uttered the remarks when commenting on the alleged imperfection of the amended Sarawak Land Code, particularly on the mechanism(s) to convert native customary rights (NCR) land to native territorial domain (NTD).
Both parties are represented by lawyers.
High Court Judge Ravinthran N Paramaguru presided over the case, the hearing of which will resume today.
