Muslim preacher Dr Zakir Naik’s two defamation suits against Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy have been set for a five-day hearing beginning March 22 next year.
The Kuala Lumpur High Court fixed the dates to hear both suits jointly during case management of the matter this morning.
Last year, plaintiff Zakir filed the two defamation suits against defendant Ramasamy.
The first suit was filed on Oct 16 last year, in relation to Ramasamy’s four statements issued on April 10, 2016; Oct 1, 2017; Aug 11, 2019; and Aug 20, 2019.
On Dec 30 last year, it was reported that Zakir filed a second defamation suit against Ramasamy, in relation to the latter’s comments carried by online news portal The Malaysian Insight earlier on Nov 8.
During case management before judge Mohd Firuz Jaffril this morning, both suits were fixed for joint hearing from March 22 to 26 next year.
“All witness statements must be filed by March 1 (next year),” Firuz informed counsel Akberdin Abdul Kader and Lee Mei Xian, who represented Zakir and Ramasamy respectively.
The judge also fixed Oct 13 this year for further case management to update whether the plaintiff would be objecting against the defendant’s application to amend his statement of defence.
Neither Zakir nor Ramasamy were present at court.
When met after proceedings, Akberdin revealed that five witnesses will testify on behalf of Zakir, including the plaintiff himself.
Aside from Ramasamy, Zakir had also filed defamation suits against former human resources minister M Kulasegaran, Klang MP Charles Santiago, Bagan Dalam assemblyperson Satees Muniandy, and former ambassador Dennis J Ignatius.
The legal actions were filed following Zakir’s alleged controversial remarks during a talk in Kelantan on Aug 8 last year, while speaking about the peaceful spread of Islam in the Malay archipelago. - Mkini
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