Court of Appeal's verdict in Chong's Black Hole case has delivered a definitive message to society, says premier's political secretary

KUCHING, July 4 2026:  Angellie Stephen Raja, a political secretary to the Sarawak Premier, said that the Court of Appeal’s (CoA) verdict in a Black Hole case delivers a definitive message to society that in a nation governed by the rule of law, no individual can leverage political expediency to supersede facts and the law.

Caption: Angellie Stephen Raja says  Sarawak DAP has relied on sensationalism, hyperbole, and hollow slogans to capture public attention.  

“This legal precedent lays bare Sarawak DAP’s systemic culture of character assassination, slander, and misinformation, which inevitably crumbles when confronted with facts in a court of law.

“It marks the utter bankruptcy of Sarawak DAP’s political credibility,” she said in a statement when commenting on CoA’s rejection of Chong Chieng Jen’s appeal in a Black Hole case.

She noted that for years, Sarawak DAP has relied on sensationalism, hyperbole, and hollow slogans to capture public attention.

She said launching grave allegations without substantial evidence not only misleads the populace but systematically erodes public trust in the democratic institutions.

She added the CoA’s judgment serves as a stern warning to all politicians across the political divide to practice principled politics and exercise due diligence before speaking, rather than peddling unverified accusations for transient political gain.

“While keeping the government in check is a vital democratic duty, such oversight must strictly align with evidence and legal parameters.

“Substantive proof can never be substituted by defamation, misdirection, or emotionally charged rhetoric.

“The electorate deserves responsible governance and mature politics, not malicious political maneuvering anchored on character assassination, slander, and deceit.

“We wholeheartedly welcome the court’s decision, which completely vindicates GPS (Gabungan Parti Sarawak) and the Sarawak Government.

“Ultimately, this entire legal saga exposes actions that compel Sarawakians to question the true political agenda of Sarawak DAP, revealing how they weaponize slander, smears, and disinformation to fracture the social fabric of our society,” Angellie said.

Chong, in a statement yesterday, had said that CoA has dismissed his appeal against the High Court’s ruling in the 2013 ‘black hole’ defamation case.

CoA also increased the damages awarded by the High Court from RM150,00 to RM300,000.

CoA also awarded RM150,00 in costs for the appeal, maintained the RM50,000 costs awarded by the High Court.

All in all, Chong was ordeded to pay RM500,000.

The state government and state financial secretary sued Chong over the publication and distribution of Sarawak DAP pamphlets alleging that RM11 billion from the state’s coffers had disappeared into a “black hole”, in 2013 implying financial mismanagement by the Sarawak government and the SFA.