8 Jul 2013

Press Statement by Tan Sri Robert Phang - 08-07-2013

TITLE:
Kuala Lumpu r High Court Civil Suit No: S-23-9-2010
Datuk Ir. Dr. Wee Ka Siong - Plaintiff
Tan Sri Robert Phang Miow Sin & Anor - Defendant

1- No Apology Given
2- Without Admission Of Liability
3- No Order As To Cost


Press Statement By Tan Sri Datuk Robert Phang Miow Sin.
Press Conference on 8 July 2013

1. This Press Conference is primarily aimed and in direct response to the story captioned “MACC PROBE FINDS NO PROOF OF MALPRACTICE BY WEE” at page 12 published in The Star dated 4 July 2013 (“the said Article”)

which carried an unbalanced and a one sided (skewed) story involving the settlement in respect of the above referred KL High Court suit which, despite my strong protests, was not acted upon by The Star, compelling me to call for this Press Conference. Full details shall be explained at this Press Conference.

2. The said Article does not publish a balanced story. It appears to be a one-sided article which gives readers the impression that I have apologized to Datuk Ir. Wee Ka Siong (“Datuk Wee”) as part of the settlement to end a defamation suit brought by the latter. This reporting has failed to take the entire settlement in its proper context with the true material basis being omitted.

3. The purpose of this Press Conference is to clarify the actual basis that I have entered into the settlement with Datuk Wee.

4. Our settlement is premised on a Consent Judgment dated 2.7.2013 recorded before the Learned High Court Judge, YA Dato’ Nik Hasmat Nik Mohamad, where the gists of which are as follows –

(a) I have executed a Settlement Letter dated 25.6.2013 (“Settlement Letter”) for Datuk Wee; and

(b) In return, Datuk Wee agrees to withdraw his defamation suit against me with no liberty to file afresh, with no order as to costs and without admission of liability by me.

5. The Settlement Letter together with the terms of the Consent Judgment recorded before the Judge, which have been marked as Court Documents, are now given to you for reference.

6. It is clear that the settlement was recorded with no admission as to liability by me, but The Star has omitted to highlight this in the said Article, and yet gave the impression that I have apologized to Datuk Wee.

7. The settlement is a “Happy Settlement” between Datuk Wee and myself. Unfortunately, I am disappointed with one-sided reporting as happened in the case here. I urge the press to observe responsible journalism where neutral approach should be taken.

8. In the true practice of professional journalism, the press should be fair to both parties in providing accurate reporting. Therefore, The Star should retract the said Article and replace it with an accurate reporting where the entire consent judgment should be taken in its proper context.

Issued by :
Tan Sri Datuk Robert Phang Miow Sin
08 July 2013

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