11 THE BORNEO POST, Thursday 17/7/2008 p. iii

THE BORNEOPOST / ýýý, HOME r COURT ROUNDUP ICT expert called inIs petitionID hearing9 Unimas dean called to explain, distinguish terms used in ICT

By Churchill Edward

KUCHING: An expert witness on Information and Communications Technology (ICT) was called to testifying in the hearing of a petition against Bandar Kuching MP Chong Chieng Jeri yesterday. Johari Abdullah, Dean of the Faculty of Computer Science and IT of Universiti (Unimas) cum ICT consultant, was called to explain and distinguish terms used in ICT as well as to demonstrate the opening of a blog site. During his examination by petitioner's counsel Henry Ling Kuong Meng, Johari said a `blog' can be written or/and owned by a single user but it can also be written and/or owned by multiple users. The case was presided over by Judge Datuk Clement Allan Skinner. Among other things, the ninth witness explained the meaning of terms like internet, worldwide web (or www), URL, protocol, http, webpage, download, and upload. He pointed out the `internet' and `blog' have different meanings and MORAL SUPPORT: Pending assemblywoman Violet Yong (left) and DAP Sarawak Youth secretary Wong though they have been nature even King Wei talk with MP Chong (right) at the courthouse. used interchangeably by end-users and laymen. The `internet' is the physical -SUPP Alan Sim Nobody has brought you to court me to attend court to tell the scope of I have in connection similar to a `highway' Yaw Yen. to bully or to embarass you. " evidence to tell the court. Wong: It is duty whereby a `blog' is an application Chong garnered 22,901 votes to In requesting Lee to answer my to remind you have that utilises the internet for data defeat Sim by 9,952-majority votes questions, Skinner said he has been that you to answer all question in transfer, he said. in a straight contest in the very patient with him. which are relevant this case and in Court is, Based on his petition filed in April constituency at the March 8,2008 "Please try to answer the question, your obligation this to this year, Kho Whai Phiaw, 64, polls. directly or accurately. tell the truth. I Court alleged that Chong or with his Yesterday two other witnesses for Listen to what Mr Wong has to Lee: request that the not to knowledge or consent published the petitioner namely Chief editor of say. question me on something that is not through his blog site "hap: /chieng Chinese newspaper Lee Fook Onn The question he is asking you relevant to the publication on DAP's jen. blogspot. com/2008/ 03/ blog- and reporter of United Daily Tan forms part of the case in this petition. 29.2.2008 in respect of the post 05. html", a letter of one `Mr Shen Chee testified. "I am explaining to you that when election manifesto. is Smith' or fictitious person on Lee's apparent suspicion on the Mr Ling (Kuong Meng, petitioner's Wong: Your newspaper related sensitive religious allegations line of questioning by Counsel Wong counsel) called you as a witness, he to SUPP, am I right? involving Umno. Ho Leng during cross examination exhibited the newspaper in which Lee: What relation? is Wee The material was published in the prompted the judge to remind him DAP manifesto which says many Wong: That the owner blog site since March 6 2008, said nobody was being unfair to him. things including the allegation of Kok Keong? Kho a registered voter in Bandar Skinner said: "You (Lee) have bribery. Lee: That I have to find out from Kuching. come to this court as a witness. "Nobody is being unfair to you. the businessregistration. Lee Kho therefore alleged Chong was The issues in this case relate to Mr You are just one of the witnesses in When Wong suggested that in guilty of an offence of corrupt 's election. this case," the judge told Lee. was being uncooperative court practice of undue influence when The petitioner who has called you Earlier Wong asked Lee: "Has because his newspaper is related to he disagreed. the material was published, has alleged that Mr Chong Chieng your newspaper published news of SUPP, the witness said contravening Section 9 (1) of the Jen is supposed to have made some Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad Tan said he did not receive any from in Election Offences Act 1954. false. statements to the electorates. condemning corruption in Malaysia complaint any quarters his He was seeking court declaration, That has become an issue. and that it is getting from bad to regards to the accuracy of news DAP under Section 32 (c) of the same Act, "Ms Chiong Chieng Jens' lawyer worse? " report on the launching of the that the parliamentary election in (Wong) is now trying to show Lee: I am 62-year-old man. election campaign manifesto. based Bandar Kuching was void and a by- through questioning of the Whatever I say I must be very The news was on from DAP election may be held. petitioner's witnesses that those careful because everything will be information obtained a by Chong In the petition Kho alleged Chong statements are not false or were not reported in the newspaper. press conference chaired Lee Shan (DAP Sarawak or with his knowledge or consent meant to mislead or were not to Judge Skinner: It is alright to be and Voon had insinuated or made a warning, induce voters to vote for him. careful but you must answer the treasurer) on Feb 29 2008. DAP Sarawak threat or intimidation of the infliction That is all they (Chong's lawyers) question. Tan testified Wong Ho Leng launched of fear and injury or harm to Chinese are doing. Lee: I request from the court and chairman voters if they wanted to vote for The issue is relevant. the relevant party that has requested the manifesto in a day earlier.