Felda's RM200 million suit against Wan Azizah to be heard in January

The High Court has set two days, beginning Jan 29 next year to hear a RM200 million defamation suit filed by the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) against Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) president Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and three others over articles relating to Felda.

Judicial Commissioner Datuk Wira Kamaludin Md Said fixed the dates upon meeting the parties after the case was called up for case management today.

Counsel Cheng Mai, who acted for Dr Wan Azizah and other defendants told the media that the parties had filed witness statements for the trial.

On Aug 16, 2010, Felda and its subsidiary, Felda Global Ventures Holdings Sdn Bhd filed the suit against PKR president, Dr Syed Husin Ali who was at that time PKR vice-president, Suara Keadilan editor Dzulkarnain Taib and Rusnizam Mahat who wrote the articles, for allegedly publishing two libellous articles in PKR's Suara Keadilan.

Felda claimed the articles published on June 22 and June 29, 2010 titled, 'Controversy' and 'RM662 million Building Involving Only Three Individuals" had tarnished their image.

It claimed that the publication of the articles could damage its reputation and the defendants had intentionally published the articles to destroy the trust and confidence of the Felda settlers for the agency.