Derbyshire County Council v Times Newspapers Ltd [1993]

"In Derbyshire County Council v Times Newspapers Ltd [1993] 1 All ER 1011 (House of Lords), the plaintiff, a local authority, brought an action against the publishers of a newspaper, its editor and two journalists claiming damages for defamatory articles about the local authority's investments and control of its superannuation fund. It was held that a local authority (and so public authorites and governmental bodies) had no right to sue for defamation in respect of its governing or administrative reputation if no actual financial loss was pleaded or alleged. Lord Keith stated that it is of the highest public importance that a democratically elected governmental body, indeed any governmental body, should be open to uninhibited public criticism. the threat of a civil action for defamation would inevitably have an inhibiting effect on freedom of speech."

-- source: Talib, Norcahya, Law of Torts in Malaysia