Defendant's failure to prove the truth of defamatory statements led to liability for libel, emphasizing the necessity of responsible publication and verification of claims in defamation cases.

Headnote:(A) Defamation Act 1957 - Section 8 - Libel - Claim for damages including general, special, aggravated, and punitive damages along with injunction to cease further publications - The Defendant published defamatory words about the Plaintiff, alleging serious criminal offenses. The Plaintiff, a senior politician and lawyer with notable public standing, was inaccurately portrayed in the Defendant's blog without adequate justification. Key principles underscore that the burden lies on the Defendant to prove the truth of allegations to constitute a defense of justification. The Court found the Defendant liable for libel due to failure to substantiate claims, recklessness in publishing, and lack of credible evidence. (Paras 62, 76)

Findings of Court:
The Plaintiff established actionable defamation thus entitled to compensatory, aggravated, and exemplary damages totaling RM 300,000. Injunctive relief granted against further defamatory publications.

Issues: Core questions addressed include the validity of the Defendant's justification defense and the nature of damages awarded for defamation.

Ratio Decidendi: The Court ruled the Defendant's reliance on hearsay evidence and refusal to verify sources as insufficient, establishing that the Defendant's actions compromised the Plaintiff's reputation, warranting significant damages for the gravity of the libel.

Result: Plaintiff awarded RM 300,000 in damages and injunction granted.

GROUNDS OF JUDGMENT

The Plaintiffs cause of action against the Defendant is based on libel and that the Plaintiff is claiming for general, special, aggravated and punitive damages and interest. The Plaintiff also prays for mandatory and prohibitory injunction compelling the Defendant or his agents to remove the libelous words or words to that effect from his blog site and also to restrain the Defendant or his agents from further publishing or caused to be published the said libelous words in his Blog.

Background facts

The Plaintiff is a senior politician who is renowned locally and internationally. He is a qualified lawyer and currently is a Member of Parliament of Jelebu, Negeri Sembilan from the United Malay National Organisation (UMNO) which is the backbone of the ruling coalition of the Barisan Nasional (BN). He holds or has held in the Federal and national level in Malaysia spanning over a period of 30 years under 5 Prime Ministers of Malaysia. He has served as Cabinet Minister under the various portfolios as stated in para 1 of the Statement of Claim.

The Defendant is a Blogger and a Committee member of the Youth wing of a political party known as the Parti Keadilan Rakyat for the 2007 to 2010 session, who has set up a Blog located on the World Wide Website under the title "Sharpshooter" (hereinafter referred to as the "Defendants Blog").

It is not disputed that the Defendants Blog is accessible to the public at large and the users of the World Wide Website by means of internet connection at the following uniform resource locator addressed at http://sharpshooterblogger.blogspot.com/.

On or about 28.12.2010, the Defendant caused to be published in the Defendants Blog at http://sharpshooterbloaaer.blogspot.com/. an article under the heading "Hei Pak Menteri ... mana mau lari..." with the photograph of the Plaintiff prominently displayed at the top left hand corner of the same containing the following words which the Plaintiff claims to be false and/or malicious and defamatory of the Plaintiff:

(a) "Hei Pak Menteri ... mana mahu lari ....

(b) Kisah seorang pembantu rumah Indonesia dirogol oleh majikannya yang merupakan seorang menteri bermula apabila sebuah badan kebajikan dan hak asasi manusia, Migrant Care, menerima sepucuk surat aduan daripada adik mangsa.

(c) Surat tanpa tarikh yang ditaip dengan mesin taip biasa itu mendakwa kakaknya yang bernama Robengah telah diperkosa oleh seorang Menteri Kerajaan Malaysia beberapa kali.

(d) "Kakak saya telah diperkosa oleh majikannya Pak Menteri beberapa kali. Hingga satu hari tanggal 19/02/07, kuasa Allah perbuatan kejinya telah terlihat oleh Datin isterinya yang sangat baik melayan semua pembantu rumah. Datin telah hantar kakak saya pulang ke Indonesia keesokannya, tanggal 20/02/07," cerita adik mangsa kepada badan yang menjaga kebajikan pekerja Indonesia yang bekerja di luar negeri itu.

(e) "Tolong kami Pak Bersihkan kehormatan wanita Indonesia yang mencari rezeki buat anak-anak yang sekolah. Apakah memperkosa pembantu rumah pekerja asing yang tak bisa baca dan tak bisa tulis, adalah satu budaya orang kenamaan di Malaysia," rayu adik mangsa dalam surat aduan itu".

(f) "Tolong bapak rahsiakan alamat kakak saya kerana Pak Menteri itu punya banyak wang dan kenalan di Indonesia. Khuatir nanti keluarga kakak saya akan di apa-apakan seperti kasus Altantuya di Malaysia," tulis adik mangsa itu lagi.

(g) Dalam perbualan telefon itulah, Robengah mengaku diperkosa majikannya. Tetapi beliau meminta sangat-sangat isu pemerkosaannya itu tidak diperbesarkan kerana dia malu dan takut.

(h) Maklumtah, dia hanya orang kecil sedangkan Pak Menteri itu orang besar dan berpengaruh.

(i) Robengah kali ini juga meminta agar ia tidak diperbesarkan namun dia mengesahkan telah diperkosa menjelang pulang ke kampung halamannya.

(j) Menurut adiknya, kali terakhir Robengah diperkosa pada 19 Februari 2007 dan kejadian ini telah terbongkar apabila dilihat sendiri oleh isteri menteri ini.

(k) Doku

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2011 MarsdenLR 3721

ZABARIAH MOHD YUSOFDATUK SERI UTAMA DR RAIS YATIM – AppellantVersusAMIZUDIN AHMAT – Respondent

Defendant's failure to prove the truth of defamatory statements led to liability for libel, emphasizing the necessity of responsible publication and verification of claims in defamation cases.

Cases Referred (3)

ZABARIAH MOHD YUSOF
DATUK SERI UTAMA DR RAIS YATIM – Appellant
Versus
AMIZUDIN AHMAT – Respondent