Former national badminton player Robert Lin Woon Fui saw the trials of his defamation suits against Supermax founder Stanley Thai and another businessman, both scheduled to start today, delayed to 2027.
Judicial commissioner Eddie Yeo rescheduled the trials for March 29, 30 and 31, 2027.
Lin is suing Thai and Teh Chee Kien over statements they allegedly made three years ago, claiming their remarks were false, baseless and maliciously published. He says the statements have damaged his reputation.
Last month, Thai and Teh each filed applications for protective orders over their respective cases.
Both applications are fixed for hearing on Sept 19.
Yeo also directed that Thai and Teh file affidavits by Aug 20, and for all parties to file their written submissions by Sept 10.
Lin was represented by Tan Lee Kiat, while G Rajasingam appeared for Thai and Teh.
Thai and Teh’s protective order applications mirror one filed by Thai in another defamation suit brought against him by his estranged wife, Tan Bee Geok, also due to be heard by Yeo on the same date.
Thai and Teh want the court to hold their respective trials behind closed doors and are asking for the media to be barred from covering the proceedings.
They also want all court documents sealed and for court transcripts to remain confidential and available only to the parties and their lawyers, with transcribers made to sign non-disclosure agreements.
Both men claim their respective trials touch on personal and familial matters which are private and not of public interest.
Thai and Teh, both represented by Shearn Delamore & Co, also claim the trials may involve examining the private lives of the parties and their witnesses.
They say the parties and their witnesses are of substantial social and commercial standing, and that one witness is about to get married and fearful of repercussions that a public trial may bring.
Law firm Nazri Aziz Masura Mak & Tan is acting for Lin in both suits.
Lin represented the country in the men’s doubles event at the 2006 World Cup, where he was a silver medalist. He also won bronze medals for Malaysia at the 2006 Doha Asian Games and the 2007 SEA Games, held in Thailand.
Thai and Tan jointly own Supermax Holdings Sdn Bhd, a substantial shareholder in Supermax Corporation Bhd, one of the world’s leading producers of rubber gloves.
They were married in 1987, but saw their relationship deteriorate amid allegations from both sides.
In 2022, Tan sought a judicial separation. Thai filed for divorce in April last year. Those proceedings are ongoing in the family court.
