Federal Court rules that government can sue individuals for defamation

PUTRAJAYA: In a landmark decision, the Federal Court has ruled that federal and state governments can sue individuals for defamation.

In a unanimous decision, the apex court dismissed an appeal by former Kuching MP Chong Chieng Jen against a Court of Appeal ruling that public authorities could sue an individual for defamation, in the suit brought against him by the Sarawak government.

Court of Appeal President Justice Ahmad Maarop, who chaired the five-man Federal Court Bench, dismissed Chong's appeal on Wednesday (Sept 26) and ordered the case to be remitted back to the Kuching High Court.

He also said that the Court of Appeal was wrong to rule that Chong was liable for defamation without hearing his defences.

The case has been fixed for case management at the Kuching High Court on Oct 3.