Amber responds to RM15 million suit
Shocked and disappointed – that was what Amber Chia felt when she got the news that her former business partner, Yap Wen-Ji, had filed a suit against Chia for defamation.
Yap, who claims to be the brains behind the reality show ‘Malaysia’s Supermodel Search’, filed the suit at the High Court on Monday.
Apart from the suit against Chia, the defamation claim is also against Sin Chew Daily for publishing Chia’s allegations on Oct 6. The newspaper’s editor-in-chief Pook Ah Lek was named as defendant.
Yap is seeking general damages amounting to RM15 million, as well as an order that Chia retracts her statements and apologises within five days.
“I believe the suit was made public to undermine my genuine and heartfelt efforts to help our contestants
and to proceed with the show,” said Chia at a press conference at the office of her lawyer, Rajan Navaratnam.
Chia describes the defamation claim as “superficial and an abuse of the true legal process of Malaysia.”
Chia said Yap’s suit deviates from the real issue which is the contractual dispute regarding franchising rights for organising the Malaysian version of Ford Models Supermodel of the World.
Yap had been asked to prove that she has authorisation from Ford Models to undertake any activity involving the modelling agency in Malaysia. Amber Creations Sdn Bhd has also claimed outstanding payments for earlier production work.
“I continue to challenge Wen-Ji on these issues and will give her the opportunity to present me with proof and to rectify payment matters,” Chia said.
Chia’s lawyer said that they have yet to be served with legal paperwork by Yap. “We haven’t received anything so far. The same goes for our legal demand for outstanding payments to Amber Creations Sdn Bhd. There has been no response whatsoever until today,” explained Rajan.
Chia is ready to defend these claims should the case proceed. At the press conference, Chia and Rajan also presented two documents from Ford Models.
The first official statement clarified that no party save for Chia’s company, Amber Creations, has ever had authorisation from the agency to conduct a Ford Models Supermodel of the World-Malaysia Search.
The second was a valid licensing agreement between Ford Models and Amber Creations – which is the only valid contract for the rights to conduct the competition in Malaysia.
Despite the obstacles in her way, Chia remains determined to proceed with the reality series. A new series of auditions will now be held, and interested contestants can register via the Ford Models website.
source: mmail.com.my
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