Press Statement By Michael Kong:
Yesterday, I was instructed by YB Violet Yong Wui Wui to issue a Letter of Demand to Sim Kiang Chiok for a Facebook post on 29.04.2021 which was published on his personal Facebook page. In the said Facebook post, Sim Kiang Chiok has labelled YB Violet Yong Wui Wui as a “Sarawak traitor”.
We take the contents of the publication to be defamatory of YB Violet Yong Wui Wui. As such, we have in the letter of demand sought the following from Sim Kiang Chiok:-
1) A full and complete withdrawal of the defamatory words, with an apology in terms to be approved by YB Violet Yong Wui Wui in one (1) English language newspaper, one (1) Chinese language newspaper, Sim Kiang Chiok’s Facebook page and also SUPP’s Facebook page;
2) Sim Kiang Chiok’s written assurance and undertaking not to further publish the said Publication and/or any similar statement concerning YB Violet Yong Wui Wui;
3) compensate YB Violet Yong Wui Wui a reasonable sum acceptable to her as damages; and
4) to indemnify YB Violet Yong Wui Wui in respect of the costs which she will have incurred in this matter.
We have in the Letter of Demand given Sim Kiang Chiok seven (7) days to reply accordingly. We shall await his reply before deciding on the next course of action.
While the freedom of speech is a fundamental constitutional right, such a right must be exercised within the bounds of the law and does not include the right to defame others.
Michael Kong Feng Nian
Special Assistant to YB Chong Chieng Jen
