style="text-transform: uppercase;">Kota Kinabalu: Unhappy over the suspension-without-pay of DAP Sabah's Likas Assemblyman, Junz Wong, the party will now challenge the State Assembly's decision in court. We found that Junz did not lie to the State Assembly during an emergency meeting held by the party on Monday night and will rally behind our comrade, said its Chief Jimmy Wong.

"The committee (in the emergency meeting) also felt that the State Assembly had made a grave error in referring Junz to the Rights and Privileges Committee which recommended the punishment which was supported by all Barisan Nasional lawmakers," he said, Tuesday.

On July 16, Junz was suspended for misleading and lying to the House over his Facebook posting of an injured woman allegedly robbed at the Suria Shopping Complex without confirming its authencity on Jan. 6.

The woman, however did not lodge a police report in spite of Junz claiming that she did, but did so only on Jan 7 and later confessed to have concocted the whole incident to gain attention from her parents.

Wong refuted claims that Junz had persuaded the woman to lodge a report, but merely advised her to do so, adding that this had been confirmed by the woman after her father told her to make the report.

He said the committee decided to support Junz in seeking legal redress and let the court decide if the State Assembly can persecute Junz based on the circumstances of what happened outside the Assembly, questioning if there is a breach of privilege.

Wong said the court could decide if he had lied, and determine if Junz had persuaded the victim to lodge the report.

"The court will also decide if Junz can be suspended without pay which is against the spirit of the Federal Constitution," he said.

Wong said a fundraising dinner will be held to raise funds to pay for the legal fees and sustain Junz and his staff for the duration of his suspension.

He said Junz will be represented by a team of lawyers from the opposition fold namely Parti Keadilan Rakyat's Christina Liew, Datuk James Ghani, DAP Sabah's Frankie Phoon and Joan Goh, who will lead the team.