SHAH ALAM: The High Court here has fixed four days from Aug 13 to 21 to hear Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s defamation lawsuit against Anwar Ibrahim.
Lawyer Rafique Rashid Ali, appearing for the two-time former prime minister, said the hearing dates were fixed during a case management before judicial commissioner Zaharah Hussain today.
The trial will run from Aug 13 to 14 and from Aug 18 to 21.
The suit will also be called up for case management on Feb 25.
Lawyer Nizam Bashir also appeared for Mahathir while Aliff Benjamin Suhaimi represented Anwar, the current prime minister.
Mahathir is suing Anwar for statements made at a PKR congress on March 18, 2023, which allegedly referred to him as a racist and claimed he had enriched his family while in office.
Mahathir also said Anwar’s statements were made in his capacity as prime minister and, as such, had a far more devastating effect on him than similar statements made by ordinary citizens.
He said the allegations had eroded his status as a statesman and former prime minister.
Mahathir wants Anwar to retract all allegedly defamatory statements made about him and publish the retractions on both mainstream and social media.
He said the statements were intended to dent his public image as they were viewed and heard by a wide spectrum of people.
Mahathir also wants Anwar to extend an unconditional apology and undertake not to repeat the same or similar statements.
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