Arifin Zakaria J:

The plaintiff at all material times is the Minister of Transport in the Government of Malaysia. He is the elected member of Parliament for Labis Parliamentary constituency. He is also the President of the Malaysian Chinese Association ("MCA"); a political party, which is a component of the Barisan Nasional, the ruling party in this country since independence. The defendant is at all material times an advocate and solicitor practising under the name of Krish Maniam & Co.

The defendant claims that at all material times he was acting for and representing one Dato' Soh Chee Wen ("the client").

The claim herein arose out of the letter dated 13 June 2000 ("the said letter") written by the defendant addressed to the plaintiff. The contents of the letter were published in various newspapers in the country on 14 June 2000. It is not in dispute that the day in question was a public holiday and one day prior to the delegates conference of the MCA.

Application For Particulars

Arising from the respective pleadings the parties herein applied for further and better particulars pursuant to O. 18 r. 12(3) of the Rules of the High Court. 1980 ("the RHC"). The pleadings cur