A three-member Court of Appeal panel sitting in Kuching today unanimously rejected Kong’s application for a stay of execution and ordered him to pay RM10,000 in costs to Wee, who is also the president of the Sarawak Federation of Chinese Associations.

The judges on the bench were Justices Nazlan Ghazali, Choo Kah Sing and Ismail Brahim, Dayak Daily reported.

Wee had sued Kong, an aide to Sarawak DAP chief Chong Chieng Jen, over a Facebook post on July 21, 2020, in which he accused the businessman of obtaining advantages in his business through political connections.

In January 2024, the Kuching High Court ruled that Kong’s statements were defamatory, malicious and unsubstantiated.

It awarded a total of RM200,000 in damages, RM50,000 in costs and a 5% interest on the damages from the date of the Facebook post’s publication until the sum is fully paid.

Wee was represented by counsel Shankar Ram and Liu Wan Ping, while Chong Chieng Jen, Chong Siew Chiang and Sharon Lo acted for Kong.