Defamation
8 cases · February 2021 to February 2026
Case Volume by Year
1 21
4 25
3 26
2021–2026
Key Issues & Sub-Topics
Libel — Anonymous digital “poison pen” letter — Dissemination via email and WhatsApp — Whether respondent responsible for publication EVIDENCE — Presumption of fact — Evidence Act 1950, s 114A(3) — Meaning of “originates from” — Custody or control of computer at material time — Rebuttal of presumption DIGITAL EVIDENCE — Metadata — Evidential weight — Failure to identify particular device — Circumstantial evidence insufficient APPEAL — No basis for appellate interference — Appeal dismissed with costs 1 Plaintiff’s standing — Applicability of Derbyshire County Council v Times Newspapers Ltd to individual plaintiffs; whether public figure barred from suing. Defamatory meaning — Whether statements alleging religious subversion and national betrayal lower plaintiff in estimation of right-thinking members of society. Reference — Whether indirect or collective references (“MEREKA”) reasonably identify plaintiff. Publication — Whether speech at public university forum constitutes publication to third parties. Defences — Justification (truth), fair comment on matters of public interest, qualified privilege in public discourse. 1 Transfer of proceedings from High Court to Sessions Court — Current trend for award of damages in defamation 1 Publication — Online messaging platforms — Telegram groups — Identity of publisher — Whether Plaintiffs proved that Telegram account belonged to Defendant — Section 114A Evidence Act 1950 — Rebuttable presumption as to online publisher — Absence of service-provider confirmation — Burden of proof on plaintiff — Default judgment set aside — Takaful agency — Alleged withholding of commission — Second set of words by other users — Special damages — Causation and proof of loss — Claim dismissed 1 Online publication — Allegation of breach of Movement Control Order — Use of outdated photograph — Juxtaposition creating misleading defamatory meaning — Reasonable reader test Defamation — Media law — Responsible journalism — Reynolds v Times Newspapers Ltd — Failure to verify facts and seek response — Defence of qualified privilege not established Defamation — Neutral reportage — Claim of “asking for verification” — Verification only after publication — Effect limited to mitigation of damages Defamation — Malice — Reckless disregard for truth — Misleading use of photograph — Legal malice inferred Civil procedure — Pleadings — Order 92 r 1 Rules of Court 2012 — Minor language irregularity — Curable defect — Order 1 r 8 applied Appeal — Error of law and fact — Appeal allowed — Sessions Court decision set aside 1 political speech — public figure — whether statements made during campaign are defamatory — whether statements refer to plaintiff — whether statements published — whether statements lower plaintiff’s reputation — use of term “pencuri” — criminal innuendo — governance vs criminal liability — defence of justification — defence of fair comment — whether statements based on false facts — role of Menteri Besar Incorporated (MBI) — compound letter validity — Dewan Bahasa definition — impact of media dissemination — Federal Constitution — Auditor-General Report — MARRIS fund mismanagement — rare earth elements (REE) controversy — application of Raub Australian Gold Mining v Hue Shieh Lee — application of Seema Elizabeth Isoy v Tan Sri David Chiu Tat-Cheong — Defamation Act 1957 — section 8 — whether defence of justification negated by malice 1 an offending article presented as a joint paper will amount to a publication of the defamatory comments by the party who allow itself to be held out as the joint presenter of the offending article if it has not taken any steps to dissociate itself from the said publication Defamation — a society which is a non-political party may be sued for defamation 1
Libel — Anonymous digital “poison pen” letter — Dissemination via email and WhatsApp — Whether respondent responsible for publication EVIDENCE — Presumption of fact — Evidence Act 1950, s 114A(3) — Meaning of “originates from” — Custody or control of computer at material time — Rebuttal of presumption DIGITAL EVIDENCE — Metadata — Evidential weight — Failure to identify particular device — Circumstantial evidence insufficient APPEAL — No basis for appellate interference — Appeal dismissed with costs 1 case
Plaintiff’s standing — Applicability of Derbyshire County Council v Times Newspapers Ltd to individual plaintiffs; whether public figure barred from suing. Defamatory meaning — Whether statements alleging religious subversion and national betrayal lower plaintiff in estimation of right-thinking members of society. Reference — Whether indirect or collective references (“MEREKA”) reasonably identify plaintiff. Publication — Whether speech at public university forum constitutes publication to third parties. Defences — Justification (truth), fair comment on matters of public interest, qualified privilege in public discourse. 1 case
Transfer of proceedings from High Court to Sessions Court — Current trend for award of damages in defamation 1 case
Publication — Online messaging platforms — Telegram groups — Identity of publisher — Whether Plaintiffs proved that Telegram account belonged to Defendant — Section 114A Evidence Act 1950 — Rebuttable presumption as to online publisher — Absence of service-provider confirmation — Burden of proof on plaintiff — Default judgment set aside — Takaful agency — Alleged withholding of commission — Second set of words by other users — Special damages — Causation and proof of loss — Claim dismissed 1 case
Online publication — Allegation of breach of Movement Control Order — Use of outdated photograph — Juxtaposition creating misleading defamatory meaning — Reasonable reader test Defamation — Media law — Responsible journalism — Reynolds v Times Newspapers Ltd — Failure to verify facts and seek response — Defence of qualified privilege not established Defamation — Neutral reportage — Claim of “asking for verification” — Verification only after publication — Effect limited to mitigation of damages Defamation — Malice — Reckless disregard for truth — Misleading use of photograph — Legal malice inferred Civil procedure — Pleadings — Order 92 r 1 Rules of Court 2012 — Minor language irregularity — Curable defect — Order 1 r 8 applied Appeal — Error of law and fact — Appeal allowed — Sessions Court decision set aside 1 case
political speech — public figure — whether statements made during campaign are defamatory — whether statements refer to plaintiff — whether statements published — whether statements lower plaintiff’s reputation — use of term “pencuri” — criminal innuendo — governance vs criminal liability — defence of justification — defence of fair comment — whether statements based on false facts — role of Menteri Besar Incorporated (MBI) — compound letter validity — Dewan Bahasa definition — impact of media dissemination — Federal Constitution — Auditor-General Report — MARRIS fund mismanagement — rare earth elements (REE) controversy — application of Raub Australian Gold Mining v Hue Shieh Lee — application of Seema Elizabeth Isoy v Tan Sri David Chiu Tat-Cheong — Defamation Act 1957 — section 8 — whether defence of justification negated by malice 1 case
an offending article presented as a joint paper will amount to a publication of the defamatory comments by the party who allow itself to be held out as the joint presenter of the offending article if it has not taken any steps to dissociate itself from the said publication Defamation — a society which is a non-political party may be sued for defamation 1 case
Key Statutes
Societies Act 1966
cited in 1 case Federal Constitution
cited in 1 case Rules of Court 2012
cited in 1 case Communications and Multimedia Act 1998
cited in 1 case Evidence Act 1950 (Cap 56)
cited in 1 case Court Distribution
Key People & Firms
Top Judges
Cases
w-02w-1130-07-2023
SUNDRA RAJOO A/L NADARAJAH v Leaderonomics Sdn Bhd
22 February 2026
MYCOA
w-02ncvcw-2301-12-2024
YEOH TSEOW SUAN v MUSA BIN HAJI HASSAN
12 January 2026
MYCOA
ba-23cy-19-08-2025
1. ) CHER GUAN CHUN 2. ) CHER INTERNATIONAL SDN BHD v LIM CHAN HON
4 January 2026
MYHC
ja-23ncvc-15-10-2022
1. ) FNC CORPORATE PLT 2. ) FIRDAUS AMMAMI BIN FAUZEE v EZHAM BIN ABD WAHID
10 December 2025
MYHC
ba-12bcy-2-02-2025
MOHD KHAIRUDDIN BIN AMAN RAZALI v SIN CHEW MEDIA CORPORATION BHD
26 October 2025
MYHC
ka-23cy-1-08-2023
DATO' SERI MUHAMMAD SANUSI BIN MD NOR v DATUK SERI SAIFUDDIN NASUTION BIN ISMAIL
23 August 2025
MYHC
wa-23cy-61-10-2021
SUNDRA RAJOO A/L NADARAJAH v THIRILOGACHANDRAN @ JAYASANGAR A/L SHANMUGASUNDARAM (Disaman atas kapasiti perwakilannya bagi pihak pertubuhan yang berdaftar PERTUBUHAN AKITEK MALAYSIA sebagai Setiausaha Kehormatnya menurut Seksyen 9(c) Akta Pertubuhan 1966)
9 January 2025
MYHC
kes-02f-17-04-2018w
Dato' Sri Dr. Mohamad Salleh bin Ismail National Feedlot Corporation Sdn. Bhd. v Nurul Izzah binti Anwar Saifuddin Nasution(Disaman Sebagai Setiausaha Agong, Parti Keadilan Rakyat)
28 February 2021
MYFC