The High Court here today set seven days, beginning Oct 7, to hear a defamation suit filed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak against Harakah and Harakahdaily over the 1MDB issue.
High Court Judge Datuk Hue Siew Kheng fixed the dates in chambers in the presence of lawyers Datuk Mohd Hafarizam Harun, Datuk Abu Bakar As-Sidek and Nor Emilia Iszeham, representing Najib, and Mohamed Hanipa Maidin for Harakah and Harakahdaily.
Mohd Hafarizam, when met by reporters, said the court also set July 13 to hear Najib's application to strike out two paragraphs in the statement of defence, on claims of fair comment and qualified privilege, filed by the defendants.
In the suit filed on March 18 this year, Najib named Harakah managing director Dr Rosli Yaakob and the chief editor of Harakahdaily, Taufek Yahya, as the defendants.
It concerned the publication of an article written by Rosli on Feb 19 on the 1MDB fund issue.
According to the statement of claim, Najib said the article contained words which implied that he had misused the 1MDB funds.
As such, he said, the publication of the article had damaged his reputation and caused him to be condemned by the social media and the mass media.
Najib also claimed that Taufek had failed to practise responsible journalism by not verifying the authenticity of the article before publishing it.
The prime minister alleged that the defendants had intentionally published the article for their own agenda, to destroy the people's confidence and trust in him.
He is seeking general, aggravated and exemplary damages, interests and an injunction to prevent the defendants or their assistants from further publishing the article.
Bernama
Fri Jun 26 2015
In the suit filed on March 18 this year, Najib named Harakah managing director Dr Rosli Yaakob and the chief editor of Harakahdaily, Taufek Yahya, as the defendants. - File pic
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