Wong Cheng Under Fire For Urging Netizens To Support Clare Rewcastle Brown

Wong Cheng Under Fire For Urging Netizens To Support Clare Rewcastle Brown



Focus Malaysia


SUBANG MP Wong Chen is urging netizens to extend their support to Clare Rewcastle Brown, the editor of Sarawak Report, in her crowdfunding efforts to pay off her debts to Terengganu Sultanah Nur Zahirah. Rewcastle Brown gained prominence by exposing the 1MDB scandal, which eventually led to the imprisonment of former Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak. However, she recently faced a setback as she lost a legal case brought against her by the Sultanah and is now required to pay £75,000 (approximately RM445,000) in damages.


While Wong Chen's call for support has received mixed responses, with some questioning why the public should bear the financial burden of someone's wrongdoing, Rewcastle Brown has taken the initiative to launch a fundraiser to cover the Court of Appeal's ordered damages. Despite her plans to appeal the decision, she believes that the damages amounting to RM300,000 and costs totaling RM120,000, though reduced from the initial demand, remain an onerous burden for the three defendants involved in the case.


Alongside Rewcastle Brown, the lawsuit includes two other defendants: Gerakbudaya Enterprise publisher Chong Ton Sin and printer Vinlin Press Sdn Bhd. As discussions surrounding the issue unfold, some netizens express their skepticism about providing financial assistance to a foreigner from Europe, rather than focusing on local concerns. These individuals suggest that Rewcastle Brown should handle her obligations independently, urging her to refrain from seeking support from the Malaysian public.


Interestingly, there are netizens who perceive that Clare Rewcastle Brown's investigative reports have benefitted the current ruling party, Pakatan Harapan. This viewpoint raises questions about potential political alignments and the influence of her work on the Malaysian political landscape.


It is clear that Wong Chen's plea for netizens to support Clare Rewcastle Brown in her crowdfunding endeavor has sparked a debate among the public. The contrasting perspectives showcase the complexity of navigating public solidarity with individuals involved in legal disputes, particularly when they have received international recognition for their efforts in exposing high-profile scandals. As this discussion continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how much support Rewcastle Brown will garner and what implications this may have on future instances of public crowdfunding for legal expenses.