[1] The appellant Datuk Raja Ahmad Zainuddin Bin Raja Omar appealed against the decision of the High Court that:

"22. Berdasarkan keterangan secara keseluruhan atas imbangan kebarangkalian saya mendapati bahawa plaintif berjaya (membuktikan) tuntutan terhadap defendan ketiga. Oleh itu saya membenarkan tuntutan plaintif dengan kos untuk ditaksir.

23. Berhubung gantirugi yang dituntut, saya membenarkan gantirugi am kepada plaintif yang mana jumlahnya hendaklah ditaksirkan oleh Timbalan Pendaftar. Bagi tuntutan gantirugi teladan dan melampau, saya mendapati ianya gagal dibuktikan."

[2] The cause of action was defamation by an article written by the 1st defendant M Goenawan Mohamed and published by the 5th defendant Mingguan Watan. The 2nd defendant was the Publisher and Chief Editor of the 5th defendant. The appellant was named 3rd defendant in a civil suit commenced by the respondent Perbadanan Kemajuan Iktisad Negeri Kelantan. The 4th defendant was the owner of the 5th defendant. The 6th defendant was a company responsible for the distribution of the newspaper "Mingguan Watan Bil 17, Ahad 21-27 Disember 2008", throughout Malaysia.

[3] Only the 3rd defendant, alleg