SHAH ALAM: The High Court has set March 17 for case management in Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s RM150 million defamation trial against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
This follows judicial commissioner Datuk Donald Joseph Franklin granting a postponement of the five-day trial, which was scheduled to resume yesterday, after the former two-time prime minister was hospitalised due to a hip fracture sustained in a fall on Jan 6.
The trial had been scheduled to continue on Jan 13, 14, 28, 29 and Feb 9.
Lawyer Muhammad Rafique Rashid Ali, representing Dr Mahathir, said the 100-year-old statesman is currently receiving intensive treatment at the National Heart Institute (IJN) following the fall.
“We received instructions last week from his office to seek a postponement of the trial. Yesterday (Jan 13), we appeared at the High Court to update the court on Dr Mahathir’s condition.
“We informed the court that it is uncertain when Dr Mahathir will be discharged from IJN and be fit to resume trial proceedings.
“He requires physiotherapy rehabilitation rather than surgery due to his age, and his recovery is expected to be lengthy.
“The court considered our application and, with no objection from the defendant – Anwar‘s legal team – the postponement was granted,” Rafique said.
He said that both parties agreed to return to court for case management on March 17.
“We do not know what the situation will be like after six weeks, but we hope that by then we will have more detailed information on Dr Mahathir’s condition and can inform the court on the next steps,” he said.
Dr Mahathir was admitted to IJN on Jan 6 for observation and treatment after a fall.
According to Rafique, the fall occurred as Dr Mahathir was stepping off a treadmill following his routine brisk walk before heading to the office.
On Jan 7, Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir said his father’s doctors do not recommend surgery for his fractured hip due to his age and that he was expected to remain hospitalised for two to three weeks.
Dr Mahathir’s press secretary, Sufi Yusoff, added that after consultations with medical experts, physiotherapy without surgery was deemed the best treatment option.
In his suit, Dr Mahathir alleged that Anwar had tarnished his reputation by accusing him of being racist and enriching himself and his family members during his 22-year tenure as prime minister.
He claimed that Anwar made the statement in his speech during PKR‘s special national congress at the Melawati Stadium in Shah Alam on March 18, 2023.
Anwar had allegedly referred to someone “who in the past had been in power for 22 years and an additional 22 months” as taking advantage of his position to enrich himself and his family.
Dr Mahathir is seeking RM100 million in exemplary damages and RM50 million in general damages, in addition to a written apology and a special press conference for Anwar to apologise for making such statements.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
