1MDB: May 11 hearing of PM's application over suit against Harakah, Harakahdaily

The High Court is to hear on May 11 an application by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to dispose of his suit against Harakah and Harakahdaily over 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) by way of point of law without a full trial, said Najib's lawyer.

Nor Emelia Mohd Iszeham told reporters today that the date was set by Judge Datuk Hue Siew Kheng in chambers.

She had met the judge in chambers during case management. Lawyer Wan Rohimi Wan Daud represented the two defendants, Harakah managing director Dr Rosli Yaakop and Harakahdaily chief editor Taufek Yahya.

Najib filed a suit on March 18 last year against Rosli and Taufek for publishing an allegedly defamatory article on 1MDB written by Rosli on Feb 19 last year.

In his statement of claim, Najib had said the article portrayed him as having misused 1MDB funds and that the publication of the article was intended to tarnish his reputation.

He also alleged that Taufek failed to practise responsible journalism and did not verify whether the contents in Rosli's article were accurate before publishing it.

The prime minister contended that the defendants had intentionally published the article with a personal agenda to undermine the people's confidence in him.