GEORGE TOWN – Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow has expressed relief with the decision made by the high court here to dismiss the defamation suit brought by Tan Sri Tan Kok Ping, the life president of the Penang Chinese Chamber of Commerce against him, earlier today.
Tan sued Chow over alleged defamatory remarks related to his resignation from the Silver Jubilee Home for the Aged. The tycoon, who was the trustee of the home, reportedly resigned along with two others as a result of the falling out with Chow, who is the home’s board chairman.
“According to the verdict, the (defamation) suit brought by Tan against me was found to be without basis because the statements supposedly made by me are based on facts.
“I am very grateful for this verdict and will continue with my work,” Chow told the reporters in a brief press conference held at the state assembly here.
High court justice Quay Chew Soon, in delivering his verdict, said the court found that Chow’s alleged remarks were not defamatory, but statements of fact made without malice.
According to FMT, Quay said the impugned statements should be read in the full context of his press conference, and not in isolation. He also said Chow’s response was legitimate, following Tan’s resignation as trustee of the home and subsequent press conferences slamming Chow for poor governance.
The judge also said that the chief minister’s remarks were measured and focused on governance issues related to the home rather than personal attacks.
According to the state-owned news portal Buletin Mutiara, Chow claimed that the home was planning to build a workers’ hostel on land it owned without an open tender. He also said that any development must go through an open tender.
“The land belongs to the Jubilee Fund, not Tan Kok Ping. The board must decide on the tender process, which did not happen,” he was quoted as saying by the news portal.
The home, occupying some 9ha in Gelugor, was established in 1935 to commemorate the silver jubilee of King George V, according to its website. It is overseen by the chief minister as chairman and three other trustees. – November 26, 2024