KUCHING: Political Secretary to the Premier of Sarawak, Angellie Stephen Raja, said the court ruling against Democratic Action Party’s (DAP) Sarawak Chairman, Chong Chieng Jen, showed that political allegations must be backed by evidence.
Angellie said Chong’s defeat in the ‘black hole’ defamation case demonstrated that facts and the rule of law should prevail over political rhetoric.
“The court’s verdict once again reaffirms that Democratic Action Party (DAP) leaders must be held legally accountable for their rhetoric,” she said in a statement today, underscoring that empirical facts will always outweigh political slogans.
Angellie described Chong’s defeat in the defamation case as extending beyond the courtroom, arguing that it delivered a clear message that no individual could use political expediency to supersede facts and the law in a nation governed by the rule of law.
She said a healthy democracy thrived on fact-based accountability, rational discourse, and constructive policy competition rather than baseless political attacks.
“This judgment serves as a stern warning to all politicians across the political divide to practise principled politics and exercise due diligence before speaking, rather than peddling unverified accusations for transient political gain,” she said.
Angellie stressed that while holding the government accountable was a vital democratic duty, such oversight must be carried out within the confines of evidence and legal parameters.
She welcomed the court’s decision, saying it had completely vindicated Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) and the Sarawak Government.
