Despite the mediation efforts between Pahang Menteri Besar Adnan Yaakob and Utusan Malaysia being halted today, they have indicated that they are still open to settlement.

"The opportunity for settlement is not closed, it is open," Utusan's counsel M Reza Hassan said to reporters at the Kuala Lumpur High Court today after over three hours of mediation.

Adnan's lawyer Americk Sidhu said that the contention during the mediation today is whether the Umno-owned newspaper will use the word "sorry" in its statement.

Instead, Utusan had proposed expressing regret, he said.

Reza said that he would have to discuss with his client about "that one word" (sorry) with regards to the settlement.

"If all goes well, we will resolve. If not, we will continue with the trial," he said.

Adnan had filed a defamation suit against Utusan over an article titled "Hebat sangatkah Adnan" in 2014.

While the KL High Court had dismissed Utusan's application to strike out the suit, the Court of Appeal had on March 1, last year, ruled to strike it out based on the pleadings in the statement of claim.

Subsequently, the Federal Court, in a unanimous decision, had reinstated the suit while ordering the matter go for full trial at the Kuala Lumpur High Court, and not allow the matter be summarily dismissed through striking out.

The hearing for this trial will continue next Monday at the Kuala Lumpur High Court.