The High Court in Kuala Lumpur today fixed Sept 21 for decision of a defamation suit filed by Umno Youth vice-chief Khairul Azwan Harun against Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) secretary-general Mohd Rafizi Ramli in connection with Majlis Amanah Rakyat’s (Mara) property dealings in Australia.

Judge S Nantha Balan set the date after hearing submissions from lawyers M Reza Hassan, representing Khairul Azwan, and William Leong, for Mohd Rafizi.

Khairul Azwan filed the suit on July 30, 2015, claiming that Mohd Rafizi had made slanderous statements against him over Mara’s purchase of property in Australia.

Khairul Azwan said he called a press conference on the same day to refute the statements by Mohd Rafizi.

In the statement of claim, Khairul Azwan stated that Mohd Rafizi had published and disseminated defamatory statements on him during a press conference at his (Mohd Rafizi) office at Uni Infiniti Mind Development Centre on July 6, 2015.

Khairul Azwan, who is Biosis Group Berhad director, claimed that the statements by Mohd Rafizi, among others, had questioned his alleged involvement in the business dealings involving the purchase of property at 746 Swanston Street property by a company wholly-owned by Mara Inc, Thrushcross Land Holdings Limited.

He said the defamatory words, which were published on online portals and accessible to users worldwide, implied that he had interest in the business which resulted in Thrushcross Land Holdings Limited to experience leakage of RM63 million.

As a result of that, Khairul Azwan said his reputation as a businessman and politician had been tarnished.

He is seeking general and aggravated damages.

- Bernama