Anwar Ibrahim's application to strike out Dr Chandra Muzaffar's defence particulars, following a libel suit filed by the opposition leader, will be heard on April 9.

The hearing will be before judicial commissioner Dr Prasad Sandosham Abraham.

The matter was decided today by deputy registrar Wan Nursalina Wan Abdullah who fixed March 30 for further case management.

lebanon forum 050906 chandra muzaffar Anwar has cited the delay by Chandra ( right ) in filing 64 particulars in the defence as the main reason for the striking out application.

Lawyer Sankara Nair appeared for Anwar, while counsel Zaharudeen Harun represented Chandra.

Anwar, has filed the suit against Chandra over his alleged defamatory remarks at a forum at Menara Star in Petaling Jaya on March 3, 2008, which were subsequently published in newspapers.

Chandra's statement had implied Anwar had committed criminal offences of sedition and was not the right choice as prime minister, when he alleged the opposition leader "was and is promoting and inciting racial hatred amongst races".

In his statement of defence, Chandra, who is Just World Movement president, denied uttering maliciously and falsely any defamatory comment concerning Anwar which was then published on March 5 last year in two local English newspapers.

Alternatively, he claimed that if the words were defamatory, which he denied, then they were published on an occasion of qualified privilege without malice.