JUDGMENT

Leong Wai Hong JC:

Introduction

[1] This is a defamation trial heard over 4 days from 10 April 2023 to 13 April 2023. Oral submissions by Counsel were held before me on 23 June 2023. Decision was reserved. I delivered the decision with full grounds on 30 June 2023.

[2] The trial arose out of a notorious poison pen letter or surat layang in its more colourful Malay language ["Poison Pen Letter"]. Unlike olden days' version of snail mail with its more limited and slower circulation via the postal system, the Poison Pen Letter went viral via social media, email and WhatsApp. Recipients local and overseas received them fast and furious.

[3] The Poison Pen Letter led to a series of traumatic events which severely impacted the life and career of the plaintiff who is a prominent and well-respected arbitrator, and at that time the Director of the Asian International Arbitration Centre ["AIAC"] based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.