By JAMES LEONG
SANDAKAN: A recent altercation in the parking lot of Prima Square was misrepresented and exploited for political gain, according to Gary Tan Ka Leek, who issued a statement refuting earlier media reports.
Tan claimed that he was waiting for an available parking spot when Chan Fook Chiu aggressively cut him off and took the space. When Tan approached Chan to question his actions, Chan responded with verbal abuse and abruptly threw the first punch.
“Without warning, Chan completely lost his temper struck me in the face. This unprovoked assault led to a defensive physical exchange,” said Tan, who emphasised that multiple witnesses, including his girlfriend – an educator – and a friend, could verify his account.
He also clarified that his sister, Liau Fui Fui, was not present during the initial altercation. She was inside a restaurant and only emerged after the confrontation began, immediately contacting the police and assisting in de-escalating the situation.
According to Tan, Chan admitted to policemen at the scene that he had thrown the first punch. Despite this, Chan later filed a report falsely claiming he had been gang-assaulted. Tan believes this misleading narrative was propagated due to his sister’s political background, resulting in the unnecessary politicisation of the incident.
Tan strongly condemned both the physical assault and the subsequent distortion of facts. He expressed his readiness to pursue legal action to protect his reputation and prevent the further spread of false information.
“The truth matters,” he stated. “I trust that the public will see through these manipulated narratives.”
