The Court of Appeal in Shah Alam today upheld a High Court decision ordering Utusan Melayu (M) Berhad to pay RM200,000 in general and aggravated damages to Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng over a defamatory article.

The three-member panel led by Justice Zaharah Ibrahim unanimously dismissed Utusan Melayu’s appeal.

It ordered the daily to pay an additional RM20,000 costs, in addition to the RM200,000 awarded by the Penang court, which was also upheld today.

The other embers of the panel were Justices Anantham Kasinater and Mah Weng Kwai, who was formerly Bar Council chairperson.

Lim was represented by Jagdeep Singh Deo.

Lim had filed a suit in 2010, following the publication of the defamatory article in Utusan Malaysia titled ‘ Kebiadapan Guan Eng ’ which had allegedly portrayed as being anti-Malay and anti-Islam.

Judicial Commissioner GV Varughese in his High Court judgment ruled that Utusan had “maliciously” defamed Lim.

He also gave a brief lesson in “responsible journalism” to the daily, saying reporters must conduct themselves professionally by verifying their statements if they are not to face defamation charges.