Court dismisses tycoon’s defamation appeal against Penang CM

Penang-based billionaire Tan Kok Ping has lost his bid to sue Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow for defamation, according to the Court of Appeal in Putrajaya. The life president of the Penang Chinese Chamber of Commerce had filed the appeal against Chow, alleging that the chief minister made defamatory remarks in connection with Tan's resignation from the Silver Jubilee Home for the Aged.

The three-member bench led by Justice Alwi Abdul Wahab unanimously ruled that the High Court had made no errors of fact or law that warranted further appellate intervention. Chow's defense of justification, fair comment, and qualified privilege proved successful. The court also ordered Tan to pay Chow RM50,000 in costs. Chow successfully established that the defences were valid and that Tan failed to prove malice when the statement was made.

The dispute arose following Tan's resignation from the Silver Jubilee Home's board, along with two other trustees, due to a disagreement with Chow. The chief minister claimed that the home was planning to develop a workers' hostel on land it owned without an open tender process, which should have been carried out through an open tender. The land belongs to the Silver Jubilee Fund, not Tan Kok Ping.