KUALA LUMPUR, July 19 (Bernama) -- The hearing of Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad's defamation lawsuit against Datuk Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, scheduled for today, has been postponed to Aug 26 due to the former prime minister being admitted to the National Heart Institute (IJN) with respiratory issues.
Dr. Mahathir is suing the deputy prime minister over allegedly making defamatory remarks using the term 'kutty' about the veteran leader.
Judicial Commissioner (JC) 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 since Monday and has not been cleared for discharge by his cardiologist.
"Dr. Mahathir, who returned from London on July 14, 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 Nor Haidir.
The lawyer added that a letter was sent to the court on July 17 requesting today's trial to be vacated.
Today was supposed to be the first day of the trial after the previous proceeding on February 13 was postponed because Dr. Mahathir was unwell and received a medical certificate from IJN.
Ahmad Zahid’s lawyer Mohamed Shahrul Fazli Kamarulzaman expressed sympathy for Dr. Mahathir's condition, noting that this is the second postponement due to his health issues, and wished for his recovery by the next hearing.
Meanwhile, JC Gan stated that all parties do not doubt the authenticity of the lawyer's letter, considering Dr. Mahathir's advanced age and fluctuating health.
JC Gan also requested that Dr. Mahathir's lawyer advise him against traveling abroad before the trial date, and directed the plaintiff's second witness, Datuk Seri Mukhriz, to testify if his father remains unwell, at the next proceeding.
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 Ahmad Zahid, 71, made defamatory statements against him during an UMNO division meeting in Kelana Jaya on July 30, 2017.
The statement was subsequently published on YouTube by Astro Awani and several online news portals, giving netizens unrestricted access.
-- BERNAMA
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