The High Court has recommended mediation to the parties of the defamation suit by Mohamad Salleh Ismail against Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar over her allegations that he purchased eight units of condominium with company funds.    

Mohamad Salleh’s counsel Wan Shahrizal Wan Ladin told reporters that Judge Hue Siew Kheng made the suggestion after the case was mentioned in chambers in Kuala Lumpur today.     

He said the plaintiff and defendant will discuss the recommendation and the court has scheduled April 17 to be informed of their decision during case management.  

He said if the parties failed to reach a consensus, the court has set Aug 4 to 6 for the hearing of the suit.

On Dec 24 2013, Mohamad Salleh, who is executive chairperson of National Feedlot Corporation Sdn Bhd (NFC) and his company filed a defamation suit against Nurul Izzah and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution.   

In his statement of claim, Mohamad Salleh claimed that Nurul Izzah had made a statement regarding the exposure by PKR director of strategy Mohd Rafizi Ramli which alleged he (Mohamad Salleh) had bought eight units of condominium at KL Eco City with public funds allocated to NFC.

Nurul Izzah’s statement was aired by Malaysiakini TV on March 7, 2012.

He further claimed that her statement implied he and his family had misappropriated NFC funds to buy the condominiums for their personal use and not for the company.  

He claimed that following the statement, his reputation and credibility as a highly educated person, businessman, and husband to the former women, family and community development minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil was tarnished and subjected to public criticism.

He is seeking for general, exemplary and aggravated damages and an injunction to prevent the defendants from publishing the statement again.  

- Bernama