SANTUBONG MP Wan Junaidi Jaafar today accepted Chong Chieng Jen’s offer of an out-of-court settlement over the DAP Sarawak chief’s allegedly defamatory remark in calling him a “hypocrite”.

Chong abruptly ended the defamation trial as it was entering its second day today by informing the trial judge, Judicial Commissioner Lim Hock Leng, that he is retracting the statement that Wan Junaidi found offensive in his press conference on March 31 last year.

Chong, in rebutting Wan Junaidi’s earlier comments on the Malaysia Agreement (MA63) committee reviewing special grants to Sarawak and Sabah, had uttered “a fair comment to such an act from a person of his standing is that this is hypocrisy of the highest degree”.

Wan Junaidi, a Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) MP, on April 3 issued a letter of demand to Chong, asking him to withdraw the remarks.

He gave Chong until Chong April 8 to respond, failing which he would proceed with legal action for defamation.

With the retraction, the judicial commissioner ordered for the two MPs’ claims and counter-claims struck out, subject to the terms of the settlement.

Chong not only agreed to retract the statement but will also acknowledge Wan Junaidi is a man of honour and integrity in the apologies he agreed to take out in selected newspapers.

The court ordered Chong to pay a minimal cost of RM25,000 to Wan Junaidi.

Chong, who had just lost his job as deputy domestic trade and consumer affairs minister when the Pakatan Harapan federal government collapsed, told reporters that when he uttered the statement, character assassination was never his intention.

“It was never an attack on his personal character,” he added.

Wan Junaidi, in his reaction, said he accepts the out-of-court settlement “to avoid protracted litigation of claims and counter-claims”.

“I achieved what I have asked for and that is fine for me,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

“My decision is consistent with the character and image of a gentleman that I portray (myself) in and outside the Dewan Rakyat, my official and unofficial character and image… (as a ) polite, accommodating, gentleman and forgiving”.

The seven-term MP described his legal fight with Chong as “not a quarrel” but a redress for statement that had gone “overboard”.

“The moral of this episode is, a politician is not given the right and freedom to use profanities and inappropriate language against any opposing person or parties.” – March 4, 2020.