Hepworth J:

[1] The plaintiff who resides at 24, Kia Peng Road, Kuala Lumpur, was at all material times the Minister for Education or the Minister for Health in the Government of the Federation of Malaya.

[2] The 1st defendant who resides at 7, Hale Street, Ipoh, Perak, is an advocate and solicitor of the High Court in Malaya and was at all material times a Member of the House of Representatives of the Federation of Malaya.

[3] The 2nd defendant who resides at 12, Jalan Kramat, Dato Kramat, Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, was at all material times a business man and company director.

[4] On the 11 September 1963, at a meeting at the Chinese Assembly Hall, Kuala Lumpur, at which large numbers of the members of the public and press representatives, variously estimated to number between 500 and 700 persons, were present the 1st defendant, addressing the plaintiff and those present through a microphone and loudspeakers available for the purpose, said the following words referring to the plaintiff:

"You (meaning the plaintiff) allege that I besmirched your character in the House. You are wrong, because you could have asked the House to punish me under Standing Orders with a maximum penalty o