Hearing of Ahmad Zahid's committal proceeding against Tun Mahathir postponed to July 21
The proceedings concern Dr Mahathir's actions in holding a press conference on Dec 5 last year at the lobby of the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex, during which he displayed several documents, including his identity card, after giving his testimony in his lawsuit against the UMNO president regarding the 'kutty' issue.
Judicial Commissioner Gan Techiong allowed the hearing to be postponed after Dr Mahathir's lawyer, Mior Nor Haidir Suhaimi, informed the court that his legal team required time to review Ahmad Zahid's affidavit-in-reply, which they only received yesterday (May 21).
'We need to seek instructions from our client regarding the contents of the affidavit, and my client is currently in Langkawi attending the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA'25).
'Therefore, we request that today's proceedings be postponed. I believe the defendant's counsel has no objection,' he said.
Lawyer Mohamed Shahrul Fazli Kamarulzaman, representing Ahmad Zahid, confirmed submitting the affidavit yesterday and did not object to the postponement.
Meanwhile, the court set new dates, from July 22 to 24, for the trial of the suit and June 19 for the case management.
Dr Mahathir had completed giving his testimony in the lawsuit proceedings on Dec 5 last year, while his son, Datuk Seri Mukhriz, who was the plaintiff's last witness, on Dec 9.
Dr Mahathir, 99, sued Ahmad Zahid, 72, for allegedly issuing defamatory statements against him regarding the 'kutty' issue.
Based on the statement of claim filed on July 20, 2022, Dr Mahathir claimed that Ahmad Zahid issued a defamatory statement against him during the UMNO Division meeting in Kelana Jaya on July 30, 2017 and that the statement was republished on Astro Awani's YouTube and several online news portals, which can be accessed by internet users without any restrictions. — BERNAMA
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Barnama
7 hours ago
- Barnama
Police Officer Murder Trial: Defence To File New Submission Under Section 300(d)
IPOH, July 16 (Bernama) -- The defence in the trial of DSP Mohd Nazri Abdul Razak, who is accused of killing 17-year-old Muhammad Zaharif Affendi Muhd Zamrie two years ago, will be filing a new written submission related to Section 300(d) of the Penal Code. Defence counsel M. Athimulan told the High Court here today that they needed to review their previous submissions. "Our submissions comprised both Section 300(c) and (d) of the Penal Code, but were more concentrated on Section 300(c). However, the prosecution's stand now is that they are relying on Section 300(d). "This creates a need to revise our entire submissions. In view of that, we are seeking an adjournment to file this new submission, with the court's indulgence, in about six weeks," he said. The court allowed the adjournment, giving the defence six weeks to file the new written submission, while the prosecution was given four weeks thereafter to respond. Judge Datuk Bhupindar Singh Gucharan Singh Preet fixed Oct 1 and 2 for the full hearing of submissions from both parties. Deputy Public Prosecutor Afzainizam Abdul Aziz said Section 300(d) was mentioned during the prosecution's opening statement on Nov 5 last year, but the defence's submissions had not focused on that section. "In our opening statement, we stated that we would be relying on Sections 300(c) and 300(d) of the Penal Code. However, the submissions we received from the defence mainly focused on Section 300(c). "Therefore, the defence now needs to submit arguments on Section 300(d) as well, to ensure there are no issues if the case proceeds to the appeal stage," he said when met at the court today.
The Star
7 hours ago
- The Star
Only the guilty need immunity, says Dr M on Batu Putih issue
PETALIING JAYA: Tun Mahathir Mohamad says he does not need legal immunity over the Batu Puteh issue. "Immunity is for people who are afraid to go to court because they know they are guilty. I know I am innocent and I want to prove it," the former prime minister said in a Facebook post on Wednesday (July 23). He said Parliament had "found him guilty" over his role in the Batu Puteh issue. "In the Dewan Rakyat yesterday (July 22), I was found guilty in the case of not making an appeal over Batu Putih," he said. "Even though I was found guilty, no action will be taken because of my age. "The one who found me guilty is Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. "He also said no action should be taken against me because I am 100 years old," he said. Anwar in Parliament on Tuesday had said although an inquiry had found Dr Mahathir likely responsible for the loss of Batu Puteh to Singapore, no legal action was initiated due to his age. In February 2024, the government announced that His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, had consented to the establishment of a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the government's 2018 decision to withdraw Malaysia's application to review the International Court of Justice's (ICJ) decision on the sovereignty of Batu Puteh. At the time, Dr Mahathir led the government. In 2008, the ICJ ruled that Batu Puteh belonged to Singapore, while Batuan Tengah was awarded to Malaysia. It also ruled that the ownership of Tubir Selatan should be determined based on the delimitation of territorial waters. The RCI, which concluded in December 2024, found weaknesses in the handling of sovereignty issues involving Batu Puteh, Batuan Tengah and Tubir Selatan.
The Sun
10 hours ago
- The Sun
'I don't want immunity': Mahathir responds to Anwar on Batu Puteh
PETALING JAYA: Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (pic) said he is prepared to defend himself in court over Malaysia's decision to withdraw its claim to Pulau Batu Puteh, stressing that age should not be a factor in the matter. His remarks came in response to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's statement in the Dewan Rakyat where he said the Cabinet had decided not to pursue legal action against Dr Mahathir due to his advanced age. 'Yesterday in the Dewan Rakyat, I was found guilty in the case of Malaysia's withdrawal of its claim to Pulau Batu Puteh. 'Despite that, no action was taken against me because of my age,' Mahathir said in a statement today. He expressed concern over the language used, noting that only the courts and public prosecutors have the authority to determine guilt. 'He (Anwar) said no action was taken against me because I am 100 years old. It means I have immunity over the issue. 'I don't want any immunity. If you accuse me of being guilty, bring me to court and prove it. I know I am innocent and I want to prove it too,' he said. Dr Mahathir added that immunity is typically sought by those unwilling to face trial, suggesting he had no such hesitation. In Dec 2024, a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) recommended a criminal investigation into Dr Mahathir under Sections 415(b) and 418 of the Penal Code. The recommendation centred on the 2018 decision by his administration to withdraw Malaysia's application for a review of the International Court of Justice's (ICJ) ruling on Pulau Batu Puteh. The 2008 ICJ ruling had determined that Batu Puteh belonged to Singapore, Middle Rocks to Malaysia, and that ownership of South Ledge would depend on maritime delimitation. The RCI concluded that a civil suit against the former prime minister was not feasible due to the six-year limitation period and did not propose that Malaysia seek a fresh interpretation of the ICJ judgment, although the option remains available.
