THE High Court hearing of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s defamation lawsuit against Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, which was supposed to begin today, has been postponed to Aug 26 due to Dr Mahathir’s hospitalisation at the National Heart Institute (IJN).
Dr Mahathir is suing Zahid for allegedly using the term ‘kutty’ to describe the two-time prime minister in a defamatory way.
Judicial commissioner Gan Techiong granted the postponement after Dr Mahathir’s lawyer Mior Nor Haidir Suhaimi informed the court that his client has been receiving treatment at IJN for respiratory problems since Monday and has not been cleared for discharge by his cardiologist.
“He returned from London on July 14 and was admitted to IJN the following day after experiencing respiratory problems.
“We received confirmation from the cardiologist on the afternoon of July 16 that Dr Mahathir is not permitted to be discharged,” said Mior.
Moreover, he added that a letter was sent to the court on July 17 requesting today’s hearing to be vacated.
Today was supposed to be the first day of the trial after a previous postponement on Feb 13 because Dr Mahathir was admitted to IJN.
Zahid’s lawyer Shahrul Fazli Kamarulzaman said he had sympathy for Dr Mahathir’s condition, noting that this is the second postponement due to his health issues and hoped he would recover by the next hearing.
Gan asked Mior to advise Dr Mahathir against travelling abroad before the trial date, and directed Mahathir’s second witness Mukhriz, to testify if his father remains unwell.
The new trial dates have been scheduled for Aug 26 and 27 and Oct 29 and 30.
According to the statement of claim filed on July 20, 2022, Dr Mahathir, 99, alleged that Zahid, 71, made defamatory statements against him during an UMNO division meeting at Kelana Jaya on July 30, 2017.
The statement was subsequently published on YouTube by Astro Awani and several online news portals. – July 19, 2024
