The High Court in Shah Alam today fixed May 10 and 11 to hear Selangor Umno’s suit against PAS secretary-general Mustafa Ali and five others in relation to the Selangor Islamic Religious Department’s (Jais) raid on the Damansara Utama Methodist Church, on Aug 3 last year.    

Judicial commissioner Ahmad Zaki Husin set the date after striking off first defendant Mustafa's application to set aside the summons filed by the Selangor Umno liaison secretary Mohd Zin Mohamed on technical grounds.    

Second and third defendants, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang and deputy president Mohamad Sabu had also filed an application to set aside the summons earlier, but their lawyer Azhana Mohd Khairudin informed the court today that they wished to withdraw the same and were allowed to do so with cost.  

Mohd Zin filed the summons at the High Court Registrar on Sept 14, 2011, naming Mustafa, Abdul Hadi, Mohamad, Harakah publishers Angkatan Edaran Ent Sdn Bhd, the paper’s editor Ahmad Lutfi Othman and reporter Khairul Azlam Mohamad as defendants.  

In his statement of claim, Mohd Zin said in an interview with Khairul Azlam, Mustafa had allegedly defamed Umno.

According to him, Mustafa caused or allowed the publishing of a defamatory article in the Aug 19 - 21, 2011 edition of Harakah , alleging that Umno played a role in Jais’ raid on the church.  

He is seeking RM10 million in damages including exemplary damages for libel, four percent interest per annum and an injunction to prevent further publication of the said article in any medium.  

Mohd Zin also asked for a public apology in a newspaper or magazine, costs and other relief deemed fit by the court.  

- Bernama