KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 11): Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s defamation suit against Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi statements allegedly questioning the former prime minister's ancestry is set for trial next February.
The matter was initially set for hearing for four days from September 11 to 14.
It was vacated after High Court judge Datuk Rozana Ali Yusoff, who was to preside over the matter, was transferred to the Penang High Court, with a new presiding judge yet to be named.
Lawyer Mior Nor Haidir Suhaimi, representing Dr Mahathir, said that case management for the matter was held on Monday before deputy registrar Nor Afidah Idris. The new trial has been set from February 13 to February 16 next year, Mior said.
"As of today, there is still no judge named to replace judge Rozana to [preside over] this case," he said in his message to the press, adding that the following case management has been set for November 28.
Lawyer Intan Hanis Afiqah Razali appeared for Zahid, who is also deputy prime minister, during the case management on Monday.
Dr Mahathir filed the suit against Zahid through Messrs Haidir & Co in July last year over Zahid’s comments made during an Umno divisional meeting in July 2017, and again in July last year. The comments had also been reproduced by several news outlets.
The two time ex-PM claimed that the statement alleged that he was not born a Malay or Muslim, with the alleged original name of "Mahathir son of Iskandar Kutty".
He added that the statements also alleged that he claimed to be Malay when he became PM to gain political and personal advantage, and that he had a skewed view of the Indian community.
In his statement of defence filed through Messrs Shahrul Hamidi & Haziq, Zahid, who is also Umno president, denied that his statements were malicious, adding that they had not affected Mahathir's reputation.
He added that the name "Mahathir son of Iskandar Kutty” refers to an individual based on the information in an old copy of an identity card.
Dr Mahathir is seeking general, exemplary and aggravated damages from Zahid and an injunction barring him or his agents from repeating such claims.