Miri Daily News yesterday carried the front-page headline that I “Admitted Tan Seng Hin was ‘wrong’” which was reproduced in the report, when I had never said such a thing in my speech in Miri or to any reporter in Miri.
I had maintained in my speech in Miri on Monday night that the Sarawak State Government and the Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister, Tan Sri Dr. George Chan had abused the state immigration autonomy powers in arbitrarily, against all notions of human rights and the rule of law, expelling the Miri Hainam Association secretary and businessman, Tan Seng Hin from Sarawak on January 6, 2001 after he and his family had settled down in the state for 23 years without giving any reason and to ban him from re-entry to be united with his family.
My political secretary, Raymond Chong, had spoken by phone to Miri Daily News and emailed a clarification asking for a correction of the false report, but this has been refused by Miri Daily News.
In view of this, I have instructed my lawyers in Sarawak to proceed with legal action against Miri Daily News for the false and defamatory report.
(23/5/2001)