The Alor Setar High Court has directed Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor to file his statement of defence against Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s defamation suit by Feb 13.
During case management of the civil action earlier today, the court has also directed the Harapan chairperson to file his reply to Sanusi’s defence by March 13.
This was confirmed by counsel Sankara Nair, who is representing plaintiff Anwar, and attended the chamber proceedings.
“The court instructed the defendant (Sanusi) to file his defence by Feb 13, and for the plaintiff to file his reply to the defence by March 13.
“The next case management is fixed on March 20 by way of e-review before the (High Court) assistant registrar for status updates,” the lawyer told Malaysiakini.
Lawyer Adam Luqman Amdan appeared for Sanusi during the case management before assistant registrar VK Neethiya Nair.
On Dec 13 last year, Tambun MP Anwar filed a defamation suit (in his personal capacity) against Sanusi over an election campaign speech in the parliamentary constituency earlier on Nov 13.
Previously, the PKR president’s lawyers issued a letter of demand seeking reparations from Sanusi for allegedly defaming the former through the latter’s speeches in the constituency while stumping for Perikatan Nasional candidate Ahmad Faizal Azumu.
Anwar won the parliamentary seat at the 15th general election on Nov 19.
Royal pardon
According to a copy of the suit’s statement of claim, Anwar contended the allegedly defamatory statement contained the allegation that he was “out of akhlak (morals)”, among other allegations.
The plaintiff contended that the statement was slanderous, false and disparaging to him.
He claimed that the statement implied among others that he was not a good Muslim and abused his power in his political party to obtain a royal pardon.
Back in 2018, he was granted a royal pardon in relation to a sodomy case involving his former aide Saiful Bukhari Azlan.
Through the civil suit, the plaintiff seeks general, compensatory, aggravated and exemplary damages.
Anwar also applied for an injunction to restrain Sanusi from further uttering or publishing defamatory words against him.
He is seeking five percent interest on the judgment sum from the date of the legal action accrued until full settlement, costs, and any other relief deemed fit by the court. - Mkini
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