KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 2): Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's defamation suit against Datuk Awang Solahuddin Hashim over the Pendang Member of Parliament's comments that the prime minister was "vindictive and vengeful" will go to trial in July 2026.
Anwar's lawyer Datuk Sankara Nair confirmed the matter with the press following a case management for the matter on Wednesday (Aug 2) before High Court judge Ahmad Shahrir Mohd Salleh.
Trial dates are July 13-16, and 20-21, 2026.
"The court directed parties to complete the pretrial documents latest by Nov 30, 2023 and to file interlocutory applications, if any, within one month from today's date," he said.
Anwar filed the suit against the PAS politician in March this year over Awang Solahuddin's comments made in the Parliament lobby.
The Pakatan Harapan chief claims the remarks insinuated that he was vindictive and had abused his power in office to achieve his personal political agenda.
The Pendang MP in turn cited the defence of fair comment and contended that the criminal charges against ex-PM Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, among others, contradicted Anwar’s claim of not practising politics of vengeance.
He also highlighted the "Operasi Lalang crackdown" during the Mahathir administration which happened six years after he took office.
In comparison, Awang Solahuddin said Anwar’s political rivals were brought to court within months after taking office in November last year.
In reply, the PKR chief said that this was "totally absurd and untenable" and asserted that the burden of proof is on the PAS man to prove the allegations.
Anwar is seeking general, aggravated and exemplary damages and compensation, as well as an injunction order to refrain the defendant or his agents from republishing the alleged defamatory remarks.