In response to the withdrawal of the appeal by two DAP politicians, Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun has announced that she will donate the court-ordered damages to a hospital. Chew expressed relief at the decision made by Tony Pua and Yeo Bee Yin to withdraw their appeal, allowing the High Court’s ruling from November 30 last year to stand. She stated that the remaining RM258,000 from the damages will be donated to the Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) Hospital, after deducting costs related to the case and litigation.
Chew reiterated that despite being accused of abuse of power for authorizing the sale of land below market prices, she had never been a part of the District Land Committee (JTK). She clarified that as an MP, she was never a member of the JTK, and thus, the approval and conversion of any land had nothing to do with her. She also denied ever submitting an application for land, and hoped that this case would serve as a reminder for politicians to ensure factual information before making allegations.
Chew added, “This case also proves that while justice may have been delayed, justice will eventually be served.” Earlier, the Court of Appeal’s three-member bench, composed of Justices Datuk Supang Lian, Datuk Hashim Hamzah, and Datuk Wong Kian Kheong, struck out the appeal by the DAP leaders and Chew’s cross-appeal, with no order to costs.
Last year on November 30, the Shah Alam High Court ruled that Pua, a former Damansara MP, would have to pay RM200,000, and Yeo, a former energy, science, technology, environment, and climate change minister, would have to pay RM150,000 in damages to Chew, holding them liable for defaming her. Chew had filed a defamation suit in March 2018 against Pua and Yeo regarding allegations of selling land to Selangor MCA below market price. Yeo had made a statement in a Facebook video explaining that the land was used for dragon fruit farming, and both Pua and Yeo made these statements in 2017.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
