Fresh from court win, Soon Koh vows to continue speaking up for the people

SIBU: Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh will continue to speak up for the people even if the state government decides to go ahead with the appeal against the High Court’s decision, which ruled in his favour in a defamation suit brought against him by the Sarawak government.

“Well, if they (state government) go ahead with the appeal, I will face it. I am prepared to do so, but will continue on behalf of the people, to speak up. This is a major, major policy affecting the interest of the people.

“This is a subject of public importance. This is a subject that affects not just people of Sarawak, but generations to come. If the government wants to appeal, I will face it; I will fight it out and that will not stop me from speaking as the leader of opposition, on behalf of the people. Because people have the right to know,” the Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) president stressed yesterday.

The Bawang Assan incumbent was asked to comment on media reports that the state government had filed an appeal against the decision of the High Court.

“Because I would like the state government doing things require greater consultation and more transparency. There should be consultation, particularly, the state government must consult the State Legislative Assembly’s (DUN) consultative committee, headed by Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohd Asfia Awang Nassar.

“And then, they have to consult DUN – that is the ultimate authority to sanction any major policy. You know, government is made up of three branches – legislative, executive and judicial. In fact, I am also part of the government because I belong to the legislative branch.

“Executive branch must consult the consultative committee of DUN headed by the Speaker and made up of YBs (elected representatives) across the political divide. Then whatever decision made, has to be endorsed by DUN as a whole. This is the proper procedure.

“And in effect, by extension, I am part of the government. Executive branch should not do things as they wish,” he continued.

Meanwhile, the High Court in Kuching on Friday ruled in favour of Wong in a defamation suit brought against him by the Sarawak state government.

Judicial Commissioner Christopher Chin said the defendant’s statement on the settlement of the state sales tax with Petronas on May 9 last year showed no clear evidence of malice towards the plaintiff.

The judge also ordered the plaintiff to settle a cost of RM30,000 to the defendant.

The state government had claimed that Wong had defamed it in the statement issued on May 9, which questioned the settlement with Petronas on the SST.

It sued Wong for RM5 million. The defendant closed the case on Sept 15 after 10 days of trial which started on July 26. Ten witnesses were called.

Out of the 10 witnesses, seven were prosecution witnesses while the other three were witnesses called by the defence.

Wong was represented by defence counsel George Lo, Jonathan Tay, Clement Wong, Thien Siaw Lien and Yvonne Sia.

The state was represented by Dato JC Fong, Adzrul Adzlan, Oliver Chua and Anisa Fadhillah Mohamed Jamel.