Today the Court of Appeal rejected an appeal from DAP’s Sarawak chief and Kuching MP Chong Chieng Jen, thereby confirming the High Court’s verdict that he defamed the Sarawak state government by alleging improper land transactions.

Background
In 2016, Chong claimed on social platforms that the Sarawak government had “gifted” prime land to associates at discounted rates and bypassed proper public tenders—charges the state later deemed unfounded and harmful. The government filed a defamation lawsuit, and by late 2019 the High Court delivered a verdict for the state, granting RM500,000 in general damages plus RM200,000 in aggravated damages.

Court of Appeal’s Ruling
A panel of three judges unanimously concluded today that Chong’s remarks exceeded the bounds of fair political commentary and were issued “maliciously,” highlighting his lack of evidence for alleging corrupt land-allocation schemes. The bench concurred that his statements damaged the government’s standing. Consequently, they upheld the defamation ruling and the cumulative RM700,000 damages awarded by the High Court.

Reactions
Counsel for the Sarawak government contended that sanctioning unsupported “land grab” allegations would erode trust in democratic bodies. Chong’s defense team insisted he was merely exercising free speech and political critique, yet the Court of Appeal ruled that these liberties do not shield groundless defamation.

Next Steps
Chong may petition the Federal Court for leave to appeal, but until such leave is granted, the Court of Appeal’s judgment remains operative, underscoring that public figures must back claims with evidence before publication.

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