KUCHING, Dec 22 2025: Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen was found liable by the High Court here today for defaming Deputy Premier Dr Sim Kui Hian over social media posts related the state government's food relief funds during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Judge Alwi Abdul Wahab ordered Chong to pay Dr Sim RM350,000 as general and aggravated damages for defamation, RM50,000 as general damages for malicious falsehood and RM100,000 as total costs.
The litigation arose over allegations involving the misuse of misuse and manipulation of the Sarawak government funds in the sum of RM800,000 for food relief during the height of the Covid-19 Pandemic.
The judge found that Dr Sim had successfully established an action for defamation and malicious falsehood against Chong whose Facebook Post was maliciously published and calculated to injure the plaintiff’s reputation.
The court also found that the defendant failed to establish the defences of justification, fair comment, qualified privilege, and Reynold’s privilege.
The defendant’s counterclaim was also dismissed in toto where the judge found that the plaintiff’s Borneo Post articles and press statements did not carry any words capable of bearing a defamatory meaning.
The court also found that the Tik Tok Video showed Chong play-acting carrying bags of rice, wearing DAP T-shirt and there were no recipients of the rice bags.
After the broad judgment was read by the court, the plaintiff expressed relief and gratitude for the long-awaited vindication and said he felt justice was done and seen to be done after the attack by the
defendant’s two Facebook posts that attacked the plaintiff’s personal reputation as a cardiologist and minister of Sarawak government.
The defendant published two Facebook posts on April 15, 2020 and April 18, 2020.
Dr Sim filed his court action for defamation and malicious falsehood on June 5, 2020 while the defendant filed his defence and also counterclaim on July 6 2020.
Along the way this suit was struck out by judicial commissioner Alexander Siew on January 12, 2021 and he also found Dr Sim’s lawyer Shankar Ram guilty of contempt.
The Court of Appeal on March 18, 2021 unanimously set aside Siew’s decision that was found to be wrong in law and the Court of Appeal ordered the case to be heard by another High Court Judge.
Dr Sim stood by the whole process with his advocate.
Today’s judgment came after some 60 days of trial and is testament to the importance of courage and patience in the path of justice.
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