Tiong withdraws suit against Tee Keat, one day before decision

Bintulu MP Tiong King Sing today withdrew his defamation suit against former MCA president Ong Tee Keat, which was filed eight years ago.

The withdrawal of the suit was made before Justice Lau Bee Lan at the High Court in Kuala Lumpur, just a day before she was scheduled to deliver her decision after a full trial.

According to Ong's lawyer Chan Tse Yuen, the suit was struck out without liberty to file afresh.

Justice Lau also ordered Tiong to pay costs of RM40,000 to Ong, a former transport minister.

This suit was over an article published in the New Sunday Times of Sept 6, 2009, titled "Chua and Tiong in cahoots". "Chua" in the heading referred to former MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek.

Tiong originally filed the civil suit on Oct 12, 2009, naming New Straits Times Press Bhd (NSTP), its then group editor Syed Nadzri Syed Harun, former journalist Joseph Sipalan and Ong as defendants but the Bintulu MP later dropped his claim against NSTP, Syed Nadzri and Sipalan.

[More to follow]

-Mkini