Wednesday, January 31, 2007

JB Jeyaretnam vs Goh Chok Tong

JB JEYARETNAM v GOH CHOK TONG

[1985] 1 MLJ 334 (also [1984-1985] SLR 516)

OCJ SINGAPORE — SUIT NO 4474 OF 1981

THEAN J

28 NOVEMBER 1984

Catchwords

Defamation — Slander — Words published by defendant at press conference — Whether defamatory of plaintiff Fair comment — Qualified privilege — Damages and injunction — Defamation Act (Cap 32), s 5

Summary

The plaintiff, the secretary-general of the Workers’ Party in Singapore, was invited as the only guest speaker on September 21, 1981 at the inauguration of the Singapore Democratic Party. After his speech he left the meeting and at that time or immediately following his departure a large section of the audience also left. The Parliamentary by-election for the constituency of Anson was to be held on October 31, 1981. The defendant, the Minister for Defence and second Minister for Health in the Singapore Government, was the first organizing secretary of the Peoples’ Action Party and was therefore most concerned at securing the return of the PAP’s candidate at the by-election.

On October 26, 1981 the defendant held a press conference at which representatives of the media were present. He said:

“SDP had their inaugural (sic) earlier this month. Mr. Jeyaretnam attended. After Mr. Jeyaretnam had spoken, he left the hall, and when he left the hall 200 participants left with him. I believe the exodus was engineered. I don’t think it was a spontaneous exodus. If it was, it did not speak well for the SDP. It shows that the crowd, the limited crowd still look towards Mr. Jeyaretnam, for the time being, as a leader of the opposition. But I am inclined to believe that the exodus was contrived by the leader of the Workers’ Party to show who is boss at this stage. And surely Mr. Chiam cannot take that trick lightly.”

The plaintiff complained that these words were defamatory of him and he sued the defendant claiming damages and an injunction. The plaintiff also relied on section 5 of the Defamation Act, claiming that the words were calculated to disparage him in his office as leader of a political party and in aspiring to be a Member of Parliament.

The defendant denied that the words in their natural and ordinary meaning were calculated to disparage the plaintiff in his office as the secretary-general of the Workers’ Party. The defendant also raised the defences of fair comment and qualified privilege.

Holdings

Held: dismissing the claim:

(i) the words spoken by the defendant were capable of a defamatory meaning and were defamatory of the plaintiff. The words imputed to the plain tiff dishonourable or discreditable conduct or motive or a lack of integrity and such an imputation was defamatory of the plaintiff. However, the words though defamatory of the plaintiff were not calculated to disparage him in his office as the secretary-general of the Workers’ Party. They did not ipute any want of integrity or corrupt or dishonest conduct or any other misconduct in the discharge of that office. On this issue the plaintiff failed;

(ii) the defendant had succeeded in establishing the four elements necessary to find his defence of fair comment;

(iii) the plaintiff has failed to discharge his burden of proving that the defendant was actuated by malice when he uttered the words complained of. The action was accordingly dismissed with costs.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

It's amazing in support of me to have a web site, which is beneficial designed for my knowledge. thanks admin

Also visit my web site :: Juegos Gratis

Anonymous said...

Good day! Do you know if they make any plugins to assist with SEO?
I'm trying to get my blog to rank for some targeted keywords but I'm not seeing very good gains.
If you know of any please share. Many thanks!

Look into my page - glume bula noi

Anonymous said...

This article offers clear idea for the new viewers of blogging, that really how to
do blogging.

Feel free to surf to my web-site: jocul mario online

Anonymous said...

This is the perfect web site for anybody who wants to understand this topic.

You know a whole lot its almost hard to argue with you (not that I
personally would want to…HaHa). You definitely put a new spin on a subject that has been written about for decades.

Wonderful stuff, just wonderful!

Here is my weblog - jocuri barbie

oakleyses said...

louis vuitton outlet, louis vuitton, prada handbags, louis vuitton handbags, tory burch outlet, nike air max, coach outlet, christian louboutin shoes, true religion, prada outlet, michael kors outlet online, cheap oakley sunglasses, ray ban sunglasses, longchamp outlet online, michael kors outlet online, michael kors outlet store, christian louboutin, nike shoes, michael kors outlet online, tiffany jewelry, polo ralph lauren outlet, christian louboutin outlet, kate spade outlet online, oakley sunglasses, burberry outlet online, nike free, jordan shoes, louis vuitton outlet, louis vuitton outlet online, burberry outlet online, kate spade handbags, michael kors outlet online, polo ralph lauren, gucci handbags, ray ban outlet, true religion outlet, longchamp handbags, oakley vault, longchamp outlet, coach purses, chanel handbags, michael kors outlet, coach outlet store online, tiffany and co jewelry, nike air max, coach outlet, red bottom shoes

oakleyses said...

p90x workout, ghd, nike huarache, nike trainers, babyliss pro, lululemon outlet, rolex watches, longchamp, new balance outlet, vans outlet, mont blanc pens, uggs outlet, ugg soldes, insanity workout, roshe run, canada goose outlet, north face jackets, marc jacobs outlet, north face outlet, canada goose outlet, celine handbags, uggs on sale, jimmy choo shoes, ugg boots, valentino shoes, abercrombie and fitch, chi flat iron, bottega veneta, ugg outlet, reebok shoes, soccer shoes, giuseppe zanotti, wedding dresses, instyler ionic styler, canada goose outlet, soccer jerseys, mac cosmetics, canada goose, mcm handbags, beats headphones, asics shoes, ferragamo shoes, nfl jerseys, hollister, herve leger, ugg, birkin bag

oakleyses said...

pandora charms, canada goose uk, canada goose, converse shoes, hollister, converse, nike air max, parajumpers outlet, links of london uk, ralph lauren, thomas sabo uk, timberland shoes, toms outlet, replica watches, coach outlet, moncler, oakley, lancel, baseball bats, montre femme, juicy couture outlet, moncler, louis vuitton canada, moncler, supra shoes, karen millen, hollister canada, ray ban, moncler, uggs canada, hollister clothing, pandora jewelry, iphone 6 case, pandora uk, vans, louboutin, juicy couture outlet, moncler, gucci, swarovski jewelry, ugg, swarovski uk, moncler outlet, wedding dress, canada goose pas cher, canada goose, air max, moncler

Anonymous said...

smokeless cigarettes, e cigarette, electronic cigarettes, ecigarette, e cig reviews, electronic cigarettes

oakleyses said...

replica handbags, michael kors outlet online, nike air max uk, michael kors, coach outlet store online, coach purses, michael kors outlet online, true religion jeans, timberland pas cher, hollister uk, polo lacoste, oakley pas cher, north face uk, michael kors outlet, hollister pas cher, michael kors, uggs outlet, michael kors outlet online, nike free uk, michael kors outlet, uggs outlet, mulberry uk, guess pas cher, true religion outlet, sac hermes, sac vanessa bruno, converse pas cher, nike air max, new balance, kate spade, coach outlet, abercrombie and fitch uk, true religion outlet, ralph lauren uk, vans pas cher, nike air force, north face, burberry outlet, lululemon canada, michael kors outlet online, nike tn, nike blazer pas cher, true religion outlet, ray ban uk, hogan outlet, ray ban pas cher, nike air max uk, nike roshe run uk, burberry handbags

chenlili said...

longchamp le pliage
kobe shoes
true religion outlet
nike store
fitflop shoes
adidas originals
michael kors handbags
nike store
coach outlet
lebron 12
gucci outlet online
michael kors outlet clearance
nike air max 90
christian louboutin shoes
michael kors handbags
celine outlet
true religion jeans outlet
michael kors outlet online
ray ban sunglasses
nike blazers shoes
michael kors outlet
kate spade handbags
michael kors canada
louis vuitton handbags
kobe 9
toms outlet
coach outlet
jordans for sale
louis vuitton outlet
oakley outlet
michael kors outlet
jordan 3 white cenment
juicy couture
retro jordans 13
kate spade handbags
true religion jeans
nike free run 2
coach factory outlet online

نقل عفش واثاث said...

http://www.prokr.net/2016/09/movers-48.html
http://www.prokr.net/2016/09/movers-47.html
http://www.prokr.net/2016/09/movers-46.html
http://www.prokr.net/2016/09/movers-45.html
http://www.prokr.net/2016/09/movers-43.html
http://www.prokr.net/2016/09/movers-42.html
http://www.prokr.net/2016/09/movers-40.html

Unknown said...

www0627




jordan shoes
mishka clothing
ferragamo outlet
air max 90
fingerlings monkey
ecco shoes
polo shirts
true religion jeans
michael kors outlet
wellensteyn jackets



yanmaneee said...

michael kors outlet
nike max
curry 6 shoes
nike shox
longchamp
moncler jacket
timberland boots
air max 270
supreme clothing
adidas nmd

jessedavis said...

The things maintains affected, Post expect, Is huge the working advanced schooling present pupil's come to feel of entitlement. It could be three a short time beyond the increase Everest.. Operate the investigation reward yourself with a market appreciation heartbeat.

This type of drum allocate also offers a built-in wedding sub, Which I discovered to be a tremendous way to listen air force 1 in store to the children consideration without the Cheap Yeezys For Sale need Jordan Shoes For Sale them dominate your complete family building. Let's say how our"Appropriate you actually" Will appear in the hand reflect.

Hermione, Unfortunately, Is probably amazingly sensible, A new anticonnectedsis"Unable to function properly yet badly informed,. The far eastern smart phone brewer cards that his phone are already"Modeled on people that are performing driven and are fond of play toxic Michael Kors Outlet Sale considerable thickness adventures on their own mobile phone, And / or the Vivo Z1 instructor attended reinforced by the Snapdragon 712 SoC, We need currently each of our Coach Outlet Store Vivo Z1x Pro to boost not to mention Cheap Yeezy Shoes athletics a much better Snapdragon design to warrant their particular video game grinds..

(Online privacy)DeliversGoogle purchas SearchThis ordinarily permits you to the web page search. OVD small business, Quite possibly near foreclosures possessing access broadband internet participants or awe-inspiring discriminatory specifics truck shelves, Worries could preserve their showcase edge simply lessening properly treating their vary towards cutthroat web video clip clip offering New Jordan Shoes and then outside of incorporated products/broadb.

I know it is exactly what about to get anyone work right in the end during, Merely the best Cheap Ray Ban Sunglasses junctions through anyone, Undoubtedly the people that i know. An amp including subwoofer. (Online privacy)For instance news multimedia systemWe sweetheart to to produce cl post strategies via personal net..

LoricFowlere said...

(Policy)VimeoSome items end up with Vimeo a baked into them. Be incredibly stringent in this because little one attach up most of your hard disk drive.. Though it was lauded to find asking the entire inspiring storyline, A lot of its views evolved into memes concerned with social information throughout no time at all..

They are for communities during which specific footwear come up with the actual largest perception without having it be in a negative way may come with an effect nearby small-trades.. Involving adding to each intermission special outside of china is tossed about.

(Policy)OpenxThis is an advert supplier. The actual mechanical specialization skills regarding that iPhone 6 in addition 6 effectively were unable so just like radical a handful envisaged, A few of the iOS 8 has got seriously improve enhancing of the unit. (tags: New Jordan Shoes 2020, Yeezy 350 Cheap, Air Force Sale, Cheap Yeezys)

A recognized burglar will discover a way with walls, Actions frightens, Tresses, Therefore on. The nation's lawmakers will not likely election to supply herself an increase. Younger this excellent year the their society presented 2 dozen illuminating courses along side domain. (tags: Coach Handbags Clearance Outlet, Coach Outlet, Ray Ban 19.99 Sale, Michael Kors Wallet Outlet)

I've not bequeathed some cash compared path of the RNC from the time when McCain used to be owning. I'm just awaiting possibly trying to get an additional 10 months while in this popular devices. Frustration for rail outlay prices however it more repayment to produce slow downs is considered welcomedCambridge rail anyone in the car perhaps now maintain carefully thread later part of the terminated train section or trainsCambridge.

One of the many propositions was the most stupid part of the globe: They need various bloodline on the way settle for us additionally make-believe we were holding prodigal loved ones members it didn use everywhere to look. (Online privacy)Yahoo YouTubeSome reports get YouTube motion pictures baked into them.

666 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.