PENANG Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow has filed a defamation suit today against a former ally - Tan Sri Tan Kok Pin at the High Court after the latter did not respond to his demands for an apology.
Chow issued a statement here, saying that the writ of summons will be served on Tan, the lifelong adviser to the Penang Chinese Chamber of Commerce for allegedly making defamatory remarks during a press conference on October 18.
In what is now billed as the court case of the year, the High Court here fixed January 24 for case management via an online hearing between both sides.
"Tan deliberately made a slanderous statement in Mandarin during the press conference which attacked my character, credibility, competency and capability as the Chief Minister of Penang and as the Penang Development Corporation (PDC)," Chow claimed.
The slanderous statement was eventually printed and published in, among others, several prominent Chinese vernacular newspapers, while the content was also rewritten by other media outlets.
"Given that there was no attempt by Tan to apologise or to retract the slanderous statement made, I am compelled to pursue legal action against him."
This is the first libel suit filed by Chow in his capacity as chief minister.
Tan, a prominent tycoon here, was instrumental in helping DAP, Chow's own party to win the state election in 2008 when the party failed to receive any permit to hold a political rally in a large open space here.
As the chairman of the Han Chiang College Board, Tan allowed the party to hold their rally within the grounds of the private institution of higher learning here.
Thousands attended the rally, which became symbolic of the DAP’s takeover of the state. - The Vibes, January 4, 2024.
