JUDGMENT

RK Nathan J:

Facts

The plaintiff was at all material times the Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry of Malaysia. On 2 August 1994, the 1st defendant and his lawyer, the 2nd defendant, published statements of and concerning the plaintiff to the press at a press conference. These statements were then republished in two national Chinese publications, namely, the Shin Min Daily News and The China Press. The publications are reproduced for easy reference:

Report In The Shin Min Daily News (Of 3 August 1994)

The publication in Mandarin when translated reads as follows:

BUSINESSMAN REPORTS TO ACA CHUA JUI MENG WAS BRIBED

(Kuala Lumpur - 2nd)

Former Managing Director of Perindustrian Dimensi (M) Sdn Bhd, Hoo Kok Wing has made a report to the ACA yesterday accusing the Deputy Minister

of International Trade and Industry Chua Jui Meng was suspected of accepting RM200,000 bribe from the deputy chairman of Perindustrian Dimensi (M) Sdn Bhd, Yang Meng Jie as a price to assist Yang in setting up Perindustrian Dimensi (M) Sdn Bhd.

In the letter Hoo Kok Wing wrote to the director of ACA, he stated there was evidence to show that Chua Jui Meng has on 18/1/1993 and 15/12