Defamation 5 LAWS OF MALAYSIA Act 286 DEFAMATION ACT 1957 An Act relating to the law of libel and slander and other malicious falsehoods. [Peninsular Malaysia—1 July 1957; Sabah and Sarawak—6 May 1965, L.N. 179/1965] Short title 1. This Act may be cited as the Defamation Act 1957. Interpretation 2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires— “broadcasting by means of radio communication” means publication for general reception by means of a radio communication within the meaning of the *Telecommunications Act 1950 [Act 20], and includes the transmission simultaneously by telecommunication line in accordance with a licence granted in that behalf under the Telecommunications Act of words broadcast by means of radio communication; “newspaper” means any paper containing public news or observations thereon or consisting wholly or mainly of advertisements which is printed for sale and is published in Malaysia either periodically or in parts or numbers at intervals not exceeding thirty-six days; “public meeting” means a meeting bona fide and lawfully held for a lawful purpose and for the furtherance or discussion of any matter of public concern whether the admission to the meeting is general or restricted; *NOTE—The Telecommunications Act 1950 [Act 20] has since been repealed by the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 [Act 588]–see section 273 of Act 588.