This is a libel action brought by the plaintiff against the defendant. The defendant pleaded, inter alia, the defences of fair comment and justification and gave particulars common to both pleas. By order of court dated 1 November 1988, further and better particulars were ordered. By order of court dated 7 April 1989, the registrar ordered that particulars (viii) under para 10 of the defence and the particulars (viii) of the further and better particulars filed on 25 November 1988 (vide order of court dated 1 November 1988) be struck out under O 18 r 19 of the Rules of the Supreme Court 1970 and alternatively under the inherent jurisdiction of the court. An appeal was brought to this court; and I dismissed the appeal. I now give my reasons.

The plaintiff is the Prime Minister of Singapore since 1959 and was a member of the Malaysian Parliament from 1963 to 1965. The defendant was the President of Singapore from October 1981 to March 1985. By the original statement of claim (since amended on 17 April 1989), the plaintiff alleged that on two separate occasions, the defendant made statements defamatory of him.

In para 3 of the statement of claim, t