JUDGMENT

Abdul Hamid bin Omar LP:

These two appeals arise out of a decision given by Anuar J. on 23 March 1993 in respect of a procedural objection taken by the respondents. The appellants in Civil Appeal No. 02-156-93 are the 1st and 2nd defendants in the proceedings in the Court below whilst the appellant in Civil Appeal No. 02-155-93 is the 3rd defendant in those proceedings. For the sake of convenience, we shall refer to them as the 1st, 2nd and 3rd appellants, respectively.

The Background

On 9 February 1993, the respondents obtained an exparte interlocutory injunction restraining the appellants from doing certain acts, including printing, circulating, distributing or publishing any allegation of impropriety, irregularity or illegality against the respondents or their subsidiaries and affiliated companies.

The respondents' case in the Court below is that the appellants breached the injunction and are accordingly in contempt of Court. On that basis, the respondents, on 23 February 1993 obtained leave ex-parte to issue proceedings against the appellants to commit them to prison for their contempt.

On 25 February 1993 the respondents filed their substantive Notice of Motion whi