Repeat claims outside assembly, Sarawak DAP rep Violet Yong told

DAP assemblyman Violet Yong has alleged that the Sarawak government’s failed negotiation over a 5% sales tax on petroleum products owed by Petronas was due to Petros board members having lucrative contracts with the oil giant.

KUCHING: Sarawak legal counsel JC Fong today issued a letter to DAP assemblyman Violet Yong over allegations made against him and his daughter during Yong’s debate speech in the state assembly last week.

Sarawak legal counsel JC Fong.

The letter, sighted by FMT, challenged Yong to publicly declare that she unequivocally waived her parliamentary immunity against legal proceedings for what she had uttered in the chamber on Nov 6, if she decides to maintain the false and defamatory allegations against him.

It also challenged Yong to publicly repeat what she said about Fong in her debate speech in the state legislative assembly so that he could seek legal redress.

“I trust you will not deny me the constitutional right to seek legal redress with regard to the false and defamatory allegations you made against me in violation of Standing Order 20(2)(m) of the Dewan’s Standing Orders.

“I can assure you, there will be security guards present in the Dewan’s premises to ensure you will not be ambushed or harassed,” it said.

Last week, Yong had alleged that the Sarawak government’s failed negotiation over the 5% sales tax on petroleum products owed by Petronas was due to board members of Petroleum Sarawak Bhd (Petros) having lucrative contracts with the national oil giant.

She had, among others, named Handal Energy Bhd, which she said was linked to Fong’s daughter, Jacqueline.

“No wonder there is so much thunder but no rain from the chief minister’s negotiations with Petronas even though the deadline of Oct 31 for Petronas to pay the 5% sales tax is over,” she said.

Her speech was however expunged from the Hansard as speaker Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar said Fong and his daughter were not present to defend themselves. - FMT