When will the Federal Court hear the appeal on political party defamation suits?

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Federal Court to Hear Political Party Defamation Suit Appeal on March 4

The Federal Court has scheduled the hearing for Kepong Member of Parliament Lim Lip Eng's appeal in a defamation lawsuit for March 4 of next year. This significant case will address the critical legal question of whether political parties possess the standing to initiate defamation proceedings against individuals. A seven-member bench of the Federal Court will preside over the proceedings, signifying the importance of the legal question at hand.
Determining if Political Parties Can Sue for Defamation

The central issue before the Federal Court is whether a political party can maintain a defamation suit, referencing precedents such as Goldsmith v Bhoyrul (1998) and Rajagopal v Jayalalitha (2006). Lim's legal team has contended that registered societies, including political entities, lack the capacity to file defamation claims as they do not possess personal reputations in the same way an individual does. This argument forms the crux of their appeal, challenging the established legal framework for defamation claims brought by non-individual entities.
Background of the Defamation Case

The lawsuit originated in July 2017 when the then MCA secretary-general, Ong Ka Chuan, filed a defamation suit against Lim. The action stemmed from remarks made by Lim at a press conference on March 15, 2016, which touched upon allegations concerning the government and the allocation of public funds for National Type Chinese Schools (SJKC). Ong asserted that Lim's statements had severely damaged the MCA's reputation, leading to a claim for RM100 million in general and exemplary damages.
Previous Court Decisions and Lim's Appeal

Prior to reaching the Federal Court, Lim's attempts to have the suit dismissed at lower levels were unsuccessful. On February 27, 2018, the High Court rejected his application to strike out the case. Subsequently, his appeal to the Court of Appeal was also dismissed, with the court finding that there were substantive issues that warranted a trial before the High Court. Lim was granted leave to pursue his appeal to the Federal Court on March 12 of this year by a three-man panel.
Counterarguments on Established Legal Precedent

Conversely, Ong's legal representation has argued that the legal position on this matter is settled, citing a prior Federal Court ruling. This precedent stems from a defamation suit initiated by the Sarawak government against Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen, where the court affirmed the government's right to sue individuals for defamation. This established ruling is being used to support the argument that political parties, as governmental or quasi-governmental bodies, should also be permitted to pursue such legal actions.

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When will the Federal Court hear the appeal on political party defamation suits?

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