KUALA LUMPUR, March 26 — The High Court here today ordered Perkasa, New Straits Times and Utusan Melayu to pay Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng RM550,000 in damages over a story about a dinner that Lim attended in Singapore in 2011.

The Star Online reported that Justice Nor Bee Ariffin awarded Lim general and aggravated damages after finding that Lim had succeeded in proving his case.

According to Star, Justice Nor Bee also ordered Perkasa chief Datuk Ibrahim Ali, information chief Ruslan Kassim and Perkasa to pay RM150,000; NST former group editor Datuk Syed Nazri Syed Harun and NSTP RM200,000 and Utusan Melayu group editor-in-chief Datuk Abdul Aziz Ishak and Utusan Melayu RM200,000.

The defendants were also ordered to pay a total of RM60,000 in costs.

It was also reported that Justice Nor Bee said that Syed Nazri, NSTP, Abdul Aziz and Utusan Melayu failed to practise responsible journalism.

Ruslan had reportedly published a statement on Perkasa's website on October 1, 2011 asking businessman Datuk Mohamad Azman Yahya to explain his meeting with Datuk Seri Kalimullah Hassan and a PAP senior leader in Singapore on Aug 12, 2011.

Lim claimed that the statement implied that he was endangering national security by exposing the country's secrets to Singapore.

He had sought general, exemplary and special damages for RM15 million as well as interest, costs and other relief deemed fit by the court.

After the adjournment, Ruslan reportedly said that he would file an appeal against the verdict.