JUDGMENT

Suleiman Hashim J:

This is first defendant's application under O. 18 r. 19(1)(a) Rules of the High Court 1980 that plaintiff's suit against first defendant be dismissed with costs, dated 31 December 1996.

Plaintiff's suit against first defendant is for alleged defamation in respect of two speeches and one press statement made by first defendant as averred in plaintiff's statement of claim dated 12 August 1996:

(1) 15. In the 10th March 1996 issue of the Daily Express, the 2nd and 3rd Defendants falsely and maliciously published an article entitled 'Yong: Previous govt's acts make changes to laws necessary' which contains a statement referring to and/or concerning the Plaintiff and/or his conduct as the then Chief Minister made on the 9th March 1996 by the 1st Defendant while opening the SAPP Constituency Committee office for Petagas.

(2) 18. In the 24th June 1996 issue of the Daily Express the 2nd and 3rd Defendants further published or caused to be published falsely and maliciously a defamatory article entitled: '57,000 ha given free!' (hereinafter referred to as 'the second article') which contains a speech made by the 1st Defendant when opening a Strategic Planning W