PUTRAJAYA: The hearing of former Baling member of parliament Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim's appeal against the High Court's dismissal of his defamation suit against DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng has been rescheduled to May 19.
Felix Lim, one of Guan Eng's lawyers, confirmed this after case management before Court of Appeal deputy registrar Dr Syahliza Warnoh this afternoon.
The appeal hearing was initially set for today before the Court of Appeal's three-member panel comprising justices Datuk Lee Swee Seng, Datuk P. Ravinthran and Datuk Hashim Hamzah.
Lee told both parties that the panel had not taken any breaks since the proceedings started in the morning.
"We have to apologise to all of you. We haven't taken any break and it is close to 2pm. And looking at your estimated time of submission, each of you would need one hour and (more time) for the replies.
"We think in these circumstances, we will have to send it for case management to reschedule a fresh hearing date."
Azeez is appealing against the Penang High Court's decision on Nov 12, 2020, to dismiss his defamation suit against the former Penang chief minister.
Azeez filed the suit in March 2018 claiming that Guan Eng made defamatory statements against him during a press conference at the Penang Chief Minister's Office on Feb 28, 2018 and at a Chinese New Year open house hosted by the Penang Development Corporation on the same day.
Guan Eng allegedly linked Azeez to the payment of RM3 million as consultation fees from the developer of the undersea tunnel project.
Azeez is seeking general and exemplary damages and other relief deemed fit by the court.
During today's virtual proceedings, lawyers Datuk Porres Royan and Craig Ho represented Azeez, while Guan Eng was represented by Datuk N. Mureli and Felix.