GEORGE TOWN, May 29 — Tanjung Bungah state assemblyman Teh Yee Cheu who shaved his head bald on January 1 to draw attention to a “bald spot” on Bukit Relau is now being sued for defamation by the company that had allegedly cleared the hill illegally.

Teh, who was served the writ of summons last Friday, entered his appearance in court today through his counsel Cheah Eng Soon.

Several Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders and non-governmental organisation (NGOs) also turned up at the courthouse this morning in support of Teh.

“We are here in support of Teh who is being sued for voicing up on issues, in this case, pertaining to the environment,” state executive councillor and Penang DAP chairman Chow Kon Yeow said.

He said he believes that Teh was merely doing his duty as a state assemblyman by speaking up on environmental issues. But now that the case has been brought to court, Chow said that PR will allow the law to run its course.

General Accomplishments Sdn Bhd (GASB) and Tan Sri Tan Kok Ping jointly filed the writ of summons against Teh for allegedly issuing slanderous statements to the press during his “hair shaving ceremony” on January 1.

In the statement of claim, it contends that Teh had maliciously issued statements that “inextricably imputed a disparaging, irreparably and falsified general perception of GASB”.

It claimed that Teh had accused GASB of violating provisions of the National Forestry Act 1984 and the Environmental Quality Act 1974.

It also claimed that Teh had accused GASB of unduly influencing all related federal and state agencies against taking any action against GASB.

It claims that in making his statements, Teh had also accused GASB of being an irresponsible, greedy and unethical developer and that it also enjoys or is accorded special privileges, protection and immunity from being prosecuted by all related state and federal agencies.

On January 1, Teh had called a press conference where he, along with his two assistants, shaved their heads at an empty field in Gelugor with the “bald” hill in the background as a symbolic “protest” to what he deemed as insufficient action taken against GASB.

On July 11 last year, the Penang Sessions Court slapped a RM30,000 fine on GASB, as the landowner, for failing to submit earthworks plan as required by Section 70A of the Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974.

The court action was taken by the Penang Island Municipal Council after the illegal clearing of the hill came to light early last year.

The illegal land clearing was believed to have started in February before the council issued a stop-work order against the company on April 24 last year.

About six acres of the land on top of the hill was cleared and GASB had promised to conduct rehabilitation work on the hill.

Teh held the head shaving ceremony to push for more action against GASB and also to push the firm to start rehabilitation works on the hill immediately.

He had then called on the Forestry Department, the Department of Environment (DOE) and the Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) to visit the site and take legal action against the landowner in accordance with their respective acts.

On the rehabilitation works, Chow said the Penang Island Municipal Council had approved the earthwork mitigation plans for the hill on April 29 this year and that the firm has been given six months to carry out the mitigation works.

Teh said his action was taken with the sole intention of protecting public safety and interest at heart.

“I merely echoed and voiced what had been spoken by the executives of the Penang state government and I have not implied any of those claims made in the writ of summons,” he said.

The court has fixed June 3 for case management of the suit and Teh will submit his statement of defence after that.