In the first, second and third suits, Yong named Junz and DAP as first and second defendants respectively, while in the fourth suit, Junz was named the sole defendant.
Yong has named himself as first plaintiff and SAPP as second plaintiff for the first to third suits, and as sole plaintiff in the fourth suit.
According to counsels, Ken Yong Chie Man and Peter Marajin, acting for the senior SAPP leader, he is seeking RM1 million in damages for each suit.
Three of the four suits were filed on December 30, 2013 while another suit was filed on January 13, 2014 at the High Court here.
Counsel Joan Goh is representing the first and second defendants.
High Court deputy registrar Steve Ritikos fixed April 14, this year for pre-trial case management as pleadings from both parties have yet to be closed.
The first suit referred to a statement published in The Borneo Post on January 24, 2013 entitled “Sabahans are no fools – DAP” which Yong claimed that Junz had made in his capacity as a DAP Sabah Youth Publicity Secretary at that time. Yong claimed that the statement had accused him of being the ‘mastermind’ behind the migration of undocumented persons into the country for unlawful purposes.
Yong claims that the statement by Junz had carried the implication that he had won all his elections prior to 1999 with the help of illegal voters, and SAPP as a dishonest party. The statement, he said, contained grave and serious allegations, imputations and innuendoes that amounted to very serious libel against him and his party, SAPP.
In the second writ, Yong referred to the same contended statement as in the first suit but published in the newspaper, Daily Express on January 25, 2013, entitled “SAPP also relied on illegals: DAP.”
The third suit filed against Junz referred to a half-page advertisement titled “Believe DAP, Don’t Be Cheated Again” published in See Hua Daily News and Overseas Chinese Daily News on May 4, 2013. Yong claims that the statement connoted, amongst others, that he had been dishonestly inconsistent on the issue of Sabah’s illegal immigrants problem and had been covering up the alleged “Project M” that issued dubious citizenship document to illegal immigrants.
According to Ken Yong, the first three suits have been served on the second defendant’s (DAP) registered address in Kuala Lumpur.
In the fourth suit, Yong is suing in regard to a Facebook posting made in a ‘United Borneo Front (UBF)’ Facebook group page. He claims the statement on Facebook accused him of abusing his power as SAPP president and being involved in an alleged RM50 million bribery deal between SAPP and the Prime Minister of Malaysia to split votes in the General Elections 2013.
It said in all four writs, Junz had consistently shirked demands for full apologies to be issued, and retraction of the statements which Yong is suing for.
Yong is claiming embarrassment, distress and mental anguish suffered since he and SAPP were then subjected to investigations, enquiries and explanations resulting from the sensationalized news and gossip.
For all four suits, Yong and SAPP are also seeking for an injunction to restrain Junz and DAP or others from the party from further publishing the said statements or similar ones against them.
Yong said the content, gravity, venom and scare mongering of the said statements by Junz and DAP has gravely damaged his reputation.
by Natasha Sim
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