The Kuala Lumpur High Court has fixed April 22 for case management of the defamation suit filed by the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) against former deputy minister Tan Kee Kwong.

ft gerakan pc 290408 tan kee kwong The matter came up before Justice Zabariah Mohd Yusof.

Lawyer Jamie Wong Siew Min said the firm of Ranjit Singh has been appointed to represent Tan ( left ) in the case earlier, and that it needs time to prepare the defence.

The court has set an April 8 deadline for the defence to be filed, after which Felda, represented by Mohd Hafarizam Harun, is to reply on the matter.

Justice Zabariah also fixed April 22 for case management.

Felda had filed a suit earlier this year, against Tan, now with PKR, over his statement that the land authority was bankrupt following losses.

He was among several PKR leaders and party organ Suara Keadilan’s editors and owners named over a 'Felda Bankrupt' article in the weekly's June 22-29, 2010, edition.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Ahmad Maslan said the article was incorrect and replete with "blatant lies".

PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim and PAS' Kuala Terengganu MP Mohd Abdul Wahid Endut have also been sued by Felda.

On October 26 last year, Felda won a judgment in default in its suit against the publisher and printer of Suara Keadilan after the publisher and printer failed to enter a notice of appearance.

In the statement of claim, filed through Messrs Hafarizam Wan & Aisha Mubarak, Felda and Felda Global Ventures Holdings Sdn Bhd claimed the allegations made were serious and scandalous.

The plaintiffs contended the article publised had slandered them, as the words implied that the acquisition and building of Menara Felda in the Golden Triangle here was to benefit cronies.

The plaintiffs want an injunction to restrain Tan, who is the sole defendant, from further speaking or publishing the similar words.

They are also seeking an order that Tan publish a written apology in newspapers and magazines to be identified by the two.

Tan, formerly Federal Territory Gerakan chief and Segambut MP, was deputy land and cooperative development minister. He has since joined PKR.