What legal defences did Daljit Singh attempt to use in the defamation case?

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Daljit Singh Attempted Justification and Qualified Privilege Defences in Defamation Case

In the defamation proceedings brought by Salim Fateh Din, former senator Daljit Singh sought to employ the legal defences of justification and qualified privilege. The court, however, ultimately dismissed these defences, determining that Daljit Singh had not sufficiently established their applicability to the case. This ruling followed claims by Salim Fateh Din that certain statements made by Daljit Singh had damaged his name and reputation.
Court Rejected Justification Defence

The defence of justification, which asserts that the defamatory statement was true, was not successfully argued by Daljit Singh. The court found that he failed to provide adequate evidence to prove the truth of the allegedly defamatory remarks. This meant that the legal basis for claiming the statements were factually accurate was not met.
Qualified Privilege Defence Also Dismissed

Similarly, the defence of qualified privilege, which can apply in situations where a statement is made in good faith on a matter of common interest, was also disallowed by the court. Daljit Singh had attempted to use this defence, but the judge found that the necessary conditions for qualified privilege were not present in this instance. Consequently, the court did not accept that the circumstances warranted the protection offered by this defence.
Defamatory Statements Targeted Salim Fateh Din

The defamation case stemmed from statements allegedly made by Daljit Singh, including the phrase "Salim cheated me," reportedly spoken to a lawyer in 2021 and followed by a text message. Further allegations included another defamatory remark sent to a news portal editor in April 2023. Salim Fateh Din, who is also the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) chairman, initiated legal action due to the perceived harm to his standing.
Injunction Issued Against Daljit Singh

As part of the judgment on July 30, the High Court not only ordered Daljit Singh to pay RM100,000 in defamation damages and RM75,000 in costs to Salim Fateh Din, but also granted an injunction. This injunction specifically prohibits Daljit Singh from repeating the defamatory statements that were the subject of the lawsuit.

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What legal defences did Daljit Singh attempt to use in the defamation case?

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