Court dismisses Mkini's bid to replace judge in PM's defamation suit

The High Court today dismissed an application by news portal Mkini Dotcom Sdn Bhd and two others to replace the trial judge assigned by the Chief Judge of Malaya to hear the defamation suit brought by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak against them.

Judge Datuk Asmabi Mohamad made the decision in chambers in the presence of senior federal counsel Amarjeet Singh and Suzana Atan who represented the Chief Judge of Malaya, as the respondent.

Counsel Datuk Mohd Hafarizam Harun represented Najib and UMNO executive secretary Datuk Ab Rauf Yusoh, who was also named as a respondent.

Lawyer Ashok Kandiah represented Mkini Dotcom and its editor-in-chief Steven Gan and chief editor Fathi Aris Omar, as the applicants.

Ashok told reporters that the court dismissed the application after finding that the Chief Judge of Malaya had the absolute power to direct any judge to hear a case in court in accordance with Section 20 of the Courts of Judicature Act 1964.