Roz Mawar Rozain J:

[1] This Court is called upon to determine a claim which has attracted public interest by reason of the identities of the parties and the issues it raises concerning the professional conduct of advocates and solicitors in the administration of justice. The Plaintiffs, senior legal practitioners, contended that a Press Release issued on 19 August 2022 by the Malaysian Bar and its then President has defamed them, falsely imputing professional misconduct in connection with high-profile criminal appeal proceedings before the Federal Court.

[2] The Plaintiffs further claimed that the Defendants specifically intended and/or tacitly authorised the media organisations to publish or republish and disseminate the words contained in the Press Release.

[3] It was also contended that the Defendants maliciously and wrongfully conspired and combined amongst themselves to defame and injure the Plaintiffs in the way of their professional capacities as advocates and solicitors having conduct of the criminal appeal proceedings at the Federal Court.

[4] The Plaintiffs alleged that the Defendants, by having issued and disseminated the Press Release, had decided and condemned the