In this monthly series on landmark legal decisions, we explore how the law shapes our society and vice versa. On this episode, lawyer K. Shanmuga looks at two recent court rulings' effect on the state of the media in Malaysia. The first one - Pahang Menteri Besar vs. Utusan Melayu -  prohibits public officials from suing reporters for defamation, while the other - a Federal Court decision - allows journalists to protect their sources by keeping their identities confidential.