The High Court today set June 12 to hear the application by Umno to dismiss Parti Keadilan Rakyat vice-president Chua Tian Chang or Tian Chua’s statement of defence in the defamation suit related to an article on the Lahad Datu armed intrusion.   

Judge Rosilah Yop set the date in chambers in the presence of lawyer  Raihanah Ariffin who represented Umno executive secretary Ab Rauf Yusoh and lawyer SH Tan who appeared for Tian Chua and two other defendants.

Met outside the court, Raihanah told reporters that Umno filed the application seeking to dismiss the statement of defence on May 7 on the basis that it was frivolous, vexatious and an abuse of the court process.

On April 11, Ab Rauf filed a defamation suit against Tian Chua, KeadilanDaily.com editor Fazallah Pit and the writer of the article Aisha Geoffrey.   

In his statement of claim, Ab Rauf alleged that Tian Chua had made disparaging remarks during an interview for the article ‘ Insiden tembakan di Lahad Datu konspirasi terancang Umno ’ (Lahad Datu shooting a planned conspiracy by Umno government) dated March 1 which was posted on KeadilanDaily .    

He is seeking general, aggravated and exemplary damages, as well as a written apology from the defendants to be published in all newspapers, and other relief deemed fit by the court.  

- Bernama