KUALA LUMPUR: Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's defamation
suit against Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin will be heard for two
consecutive days from May 7 next year.
Khairy's counsel Lew Cho Kang said High Court judicial commissioner
S.M. Komathy Suppiah set the hearing dates after she vacated
previously fixed dates on Dec 4 and 5.
Lew, met after the chamber matter today, said his client sought the
new dates to allow disposal of Khairy's related appeal at the Federal
Court.
The Federal Court on Monday(Oct 20) allowed Khairy to appeal a high
court dismissal of his bid to amend his statement of defence against
Anwar's suit.
Anwar filed the suit on March 7, 2008, claiming Khairy uttered
defamatory words about him during a ceramah at Lembah Pantai on Feb 20
the same year.
The words were published on several online portals like Malaysiakini,
which carried an article titled "Anwar and Kin no Threat."
Anwar alleged the words implied him being involved in unnatural sexual
activities that contravened Islam, and being of immoral character.
He seeks aggravated and exemplary damages as well as an injunction to
prevent Khairy from repeating such statements against him.
The High Court threw out Khairy's application to amend his statement
of defence on Oct 9 last year. The decision was upheld by the Court of
Appeal on Aug 20.
Counsel J. Leela appeared for Anwar. Neither the plaintiff nor Khairy
attended court today.
ends