Court tells Anwar to settle defamation suit

The trial will be from May 9 to May 13, if the proposed mediation fails.

KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court on Thursday advised jailed de facto Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim to settle his defamation lawsuit against Umno man Mazlan Ismail, Sistem Television Malaysia Bhd (TV3) and Utusan Melayu.

Anwar’s lawyer, Sangeet Kaur, said this after meeting Justice John Louis O’Hara for case management. “The parties agreed to attempt mediation, and the court will direct the matter to the mediation centre at a later date,” she said.

She added the trial will be from May 9 to May 13, if the proposed mediation fails. “The trial documents must be filed before February 10 if the trial proceeds,” said Sangeet.

On 15 October last year, Anwar sued Mazlan, former Permatang Pauh election candidate from Umno, and the two media companies for claiming — during a press conference on 2 August 2013 — that he was a corrupt and unethical person.

The statement by Mazlan was aired on television the same day and carried by Utusan Malaysia the next day.

Anwar is seeking general and aggravated damages as well as an injunction against the three from publishing any defamatory statements.