Uggah’s defamation suit against Vernon to resume May 27-29, June 17-19
KUCHING: The High Court here yesterday fi xed May 27 to 29 and June 17 to 19 for the continued hearing of the defamation suit brought by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah against PKR Sarawak information chief Vernon Kedit.
The Bukit Saban assemblyman is suing Vernon for allegedly using the words ‘ liar’ and ‘traitor’ when referring to Uggah in the PKR Sarawak State Media WhatsApp group on July 12, 2018.
Vernon had allegedly used the words when responding to a news report in online portal DayakDaily which had quoted the deputy chief minister as saying that ‘usufructuary right’ on land meant that one could use and own the land.
In his suit, Uggah denied making such comment as reported by the portal.
During cross- examination yesterday, Uggah said he could not find time to correct DayakDaily on its report titled ‘ Usufructuary rights mean ‘can use, can own’, says Uggah’ as he was too busy, in addition to the fact there were so many other articles on land matters in the media for him to check all of them.
He said he was only aware of the DayakDaily report, which included his mugshot, when a link carrying Vernon’s statement against him was posted.
He added that DayakDaily had never interviewed him or verified the said news report with him.
A selective reading of the State Legislative Assembly ( DUN) Hansard was also conducted to trace information which could be used to match information in the DayakDaily report.
Uggah also took the opportunity to tell the court that the Land Code (Amendment) Bill 2018 will not in effect reduce the size of land already surveyed of about 3.3 million hectares, and that native customary rights ( NCR) and native territorial domain ( NTD) are two different things.
The Land Code (Amendment) Bill 2018 was introduced and became law to solve previous problems that NCR (or Pemakai Menoa and Pulau Galau) on land are customs having no force of law. The law also confers native communal title and does not erode NCR, he added.
It is said Uggah is seeking at least RM100,000 in damages from Vernon.
Uggah’s legal team was led by counsel Sim Hui Chiang while Vernon’s, by counsel Desmond Kho.
High Court Judge Ravinthran N Paramaguru presided over the hearing.