[1] The 1st appellant was at all material times the owner of the 2nd appellant, a private school in Kuala Terengganu. The 3rd appellant is the proprietor of Messrs Isaac & Partners, a firm of advocates and solicitors.

[2] The 1st respondent was the publisher of the newspaper Berita Harian which published the article in its 4 June 1987 issue. The 2nd respondent was the author of the article and the 3rd respondent the company that owned the newspaper

Background Facts

[3] On 4 June 1987, an article titled 'Sekolah Swasta, Firma Guaman Disiasat. Markas Sulit Sebar Kristian' was published in the Berita Harian. Alleging that the article was defamatory of them, the 1st and 2nd appellants filed High Court Suit No S2 (S1)-23-16-1995 and the 3rd appellant High Court Suit No S1-23- 17-1995 against the respondents. Both suits were consolidated on 21 September 1998.

[4] The contents of the alleged defamatory article in the Berita Harian were as follows:-

"Sebuah sekolah swasta dan firma guaman di sini dikatakan menjadi pusat penyebaran agama Kristian kepada orang Islam di negeri ini yang dibuat secara senyap dan sulit.

Pusat itu mendapat pelbagai kemudahan dan sumber kewangan dari luar untuk membiaya