KUCHING: The High Court here yesterday dismissed an application by state DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen to strike out Santubong MP Dato Sri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar’s defamation suit against him.
Judge Dr Lim Hock Leng, who delivered the order through video conferencing from Sibu, said the dismissal came with cost of RM3,000 against Chong who is Bandar Kuching MP and Kota Sentosa assemblyman.
Lee also retained the pre-trial case management date on Feb 12, 2020, which could also be done by e-review.
The High Court on Aug 20 fixed March 2 to 6 next year to hear the defamation suit.
Wan Junaidi filed the suit alleging that Chong branded him a ‘hypocrite’ at a press conference here on March 31, saying the offending remark was not only published in several newspapers but also uploaded by a news portal in a video.
He is claiming almost RM1 million in damages from Chong.
Wan Junaidi, also a lawyer and former deputy speaker of Parliament was represented by Counsel Wilfred Yap.
Yap on April 3 this year demanded that Chong retracted the alleged defamatory remark, and gave him a week’s grace period to do so. Come April 8, there was no indication from Chong that he would apologise or retract his remark. Hence, Wan Junaidi sued him.
Chong was represented by counsels Chong Siew Chiang (his father), and Michael Kong.