High Court awards businessman RM400,000 in defamation suit against Chinese daily

KUALA LUMPUR: A Penang businessman was awarded RM400,000 in damages by the High Court here today in his defamation suit against a Chinese daily.

Yeoh Ee Seong sued Sin Chew Media Corporation Bhd in May last year over a report by Guan Ming Daily, which the company publishes, that implied that he was the mastermind behind the assault on a lawyer.

The report was published on Dec 27, 2024.

Yeoh argued that the article’s headline and contents suggested that he was not only the mastermind but was also arrested while trying to flee by air.

He said the headline in Mandarin translated as “Mastermind behind the attack on Penang lawyer arrested while fleeing by plane”.

Yeoh claimed the article, which also carried a photograph identifying him at the magistrates’ court, portrayed him as dishonest, untrustworthy, lacking integrity, a criminal, and someone trying to escape the law.

He denied attempting to flee, clarifying that he had changed his flight to return earlier to Penang after learning that police required him to facilitate an investigation and face any possible charge.

Sin Chew denied defaming Yeoh and relied on several defences, including truth or substantial truth, neutral reporting, qualified privilege, fair comment, and provisions under the defamation law.

The court considered and rejected the defences.

Ruling in Yeoh’s favour, Justice Mahazan Mat Taib awarded the Khean Seng Engineering Sdn Bhd managing director RM250,000 in general damages and RM150,000 in aggravated damages.

The court also granted a permanent injunction restraining Sin Chew from republishing the defamatory statements. The company was also ordered to pay RM20,000 in costs.

Mahazan did not award exemplary damages, holding that such damages were only granted in exceptional circumstances.

Yeoh was represented by Nicholas Kow, Marcia Lopez and Emile Ezra, while Sin Chew was represented by VL Yiew and Yiew De Quan.