The High Court in Kuala Lumpur has postponed for the third time the hearing of the RM100 million defamation suit brought by jailed opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim against Minister for Youth and Sports Khairy Jamaluddin.

This is after the court was notified that Khairy's counsel, Muhammed Shafee Abdullah, was unwell, also for the third time.

Justice Azizul Azmi Adnan fixed Aug 7 as the next hearing date, which is two months after Shafee’s medical leave ends on June 7.

In ruling that this will be the final postponement, the presiding judge said if Shafee cannot attend the proceedings on Aug 7, another lawyer will have to step in for the senior lawyer.

On April 17, the court ordered Khairy to pay RM3,000 in costs to Anwar because Shafee failed to abide by the court directive to file his written submission to include an additional defence of "fair comment" in time.

Shafee's colleague informed the court that he had suffered a hamstring injury and could not attend the proceedings.

The court then postponed the submission of the trial to May 19.

Shafee, who was present at court on May 19, said he was unwell and the court again postponed the trial.

Anwar was represented by Sivarasa Rasiah and J Leelae while Khairy was represented by Sarah Abishegam.

Anwar had filed the RM100 million defamation suit following the Umno Youth chief's "main belakang" remark at a political ceramah in Lembah Pantai on Feb 19, 2008, which was carried by Malaysiakini.

The jailed opposition leader argued that the phrase meant that he is a homosexual.