Photo for illustration.
KUCHING (June 22): Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas) chairman Tan Sri Ahmad Nizam Salleh will be testifying for Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) president Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh in the defamation suit filed against Wong by the Sarawak government, a lawyer said.
The lawyer, who is representing Wong and who did not wish to be named, said the Court of Appeal had dismissed an application by Ahmad Nizam to set aside a subpoena for him to testify in the case, which will commence in the Sibu High Court on July 26, 2021.
“This morning, the Court of Appeal dismissed an appeal by the Petronas chairman Tan Sri Ahmad Nizam to set aside a subpoena served upon him to testify as a witness in the defamation suit brought by the Sarawak Government against the leader of the state opposition, PSB president Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh,” the lawyer said.
The proceeding was conducted via Zoom.
The lawyer explained that Wong was sued by the state government over a press statement issued by him on March 8, 2018, regarding the settlement between the state Government and Petronas which led to the payment of RM2.89 billion for 2019 Sales Tax.
The Bawang Assan assemblyman had issued a subpoena to compel Ahmad Nizam to testify as a witness in the trial.
On March 12 2021 and April 5 2021, the Sarawak Government and Ahmad Nizam had filed separate applications in the Sibu High Court to set aside the subpoena.
Both applications were heard and dismissed by the Sibu High Court on April 13 2021.
Ahmad Nizam then appealed to the Court of Appeal against the dismissal of his application.
The Sarawak Government did not appeal against the said decision.
Today, the Court of Appeal found that there was no merit in Nizam’s appeal and dismissed it with costs.