Nurul Izzah’s defamation suit against duo will proceed to trial
KUALA LUMPUR: PKR vicepresident Nurul Izzah Anwar’s defamation suit against Inspector- General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar and Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob will proceed to trial.
The plaintiff’’s lawyer Shahid Adli Kamarudin told reporters when met after the case management proceeding in chambers yesterday before judicial commissioner Datin Faizah Jamaludin, that his client’s proposal for the case to be settled amicably was not accepted by the Attorney- General’s Chambers.
The defendants were represented by senior federal counsel ( SFC) Normastura Ayub and Zureen Elina Mohd Dom.
Shahid Adli disclosed that the trial would be held for three days, commencing on Aug 9.
He said the court also allowed Nurul Izzah’s application for her father Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to testify in the hearing and set May 31 for case management.
Meanwhile, the SFC said the attorney- general did not agree with the terms of settlement proposed by the plaintiff.
Asked whether the attorneygeneral may represent Ismail Sabri in the case, she said the former would, if the minister requested so officially.
Trial was to have commenced yesterday but adjourned after the plaintiff proposed that it be settled amicably.
Nurul Izzah who is also Lembah Pantai Member of Parliament filed the suit on Nov 26, 2015, alleging that Khalid had slandered her in a media conference at Bukit Aman Police Headquarters on Nov 22, 2015.
She also alleged that Ismail Sabri slandered her the same day at a function in Bera, Pahang.
In her statement of claim, Nurul Izzah said Khalid and Ismail Sabri made the disparaging remarks after the publication of a photograph of her with Jacel Kiram, the daughter of Jamalulail Kiram who was alleged to have ordered the attack and intrusion in Sabah in 2013.
The plaintiff further alleged that the defendants’ remarks portrayed her as a traitor to the country and mastermind in the Sabah intrusion incident. — Bernama