Malaysia Case Law: Decisions & Judgments | LexChat

Topic

Neutral reportage

Legal area

Court

27 Oct 2025

MOHD KHAIRUDDIN BIN AMAN RAZALI SIN CHEW MEDIA CORPORATION BHD

Citation

BA-12BCY-2-02/2025 (Mahkamah Tinggi)
Court

High Court
Case number

BA-12BCY-2-02/2025 (Mahkamah Tinggi)

The article, by pairing an outdated 2016 photograph with a contemporaneous 2020 headline and presenting allegations as fact without prior verification or seeking comment, conveyed a defamatory meaning; the respondent's failure to verify and the accusatory tone defeated any qualified privilege or Reynolds defence and amounted to recklessness/malice; procedural pleading defects caused no prejudice and did not bar relief, entitling the appellant to damages.
27 Oct 2025

MOHD KHAIRUDDIN BIN AMAN RAZALI SIN CHEW MEDIA CORPORATION BHD

Citation

BA-12BCY-2-02/2025 (Mahkamah Tinggi)
Court

High Court
Case number

BA-12BCY-2-02/2025 (Mahkamah Tinggi)

The publication was defamatory because the text and the juxtaposed 2016 photograph with a 2020 headline created a misleading composite meaning; the respondent failed to verify the photograph or seek the appellant's comment, adopted an accusatory tone without urgency, and thus could not invoke qualified privilege or Reynolds responsible journalism; the failures amounted to recklessness (legal malice); pleadings irregularity did not cause prejudice and was not fatal; appeal allowed, Sessions Court judgment set aside and RM50,000 awarded with statutory interest and costs.