The Kuala Lumpur High Court has ordered Sungai Besar Umno division chief Jamal Md Yunos to file his defence in a defamation suit brought against him by Maria Chin Abdullah.

This came after the Bersih chairperson's lawyer informed deputy registrar Norfauzani Mohd Nordin that they were applying for substituted service, since attempts to serve the legal notice to Jamal were unsuccessful.

Then, the lawyers of Jamal, who is the leader of the red-shirts, also appeared before Norfauzani.

"Following that, the court ordered Jamal to file his defence by Dec 2 and for us to submit a reply to the defence by Dec 16,” said Maria's lawyer, Melissa Sasidaran.