PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang filed an application to set aside a judgement in default awarding RM2 million to Mohd Shamsul Mat Amin, the former Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) candidate for the Bukit Besi state seat.    

Abdul Hadi, who is the Marang member of parliament, filed the application through his lawyer Asmuni Awi at the Kuala Terengganu High Court about 11.20am today.  

Asmuni told reporters that the court had set March 30 for the hearing of the application.   

Last Sunday, the Kuala Terengganu High Court had ordered Abdul Hadi to pay RM2 million in damages to Mohd Shamsul for the defamation suit he filed on Dec 5 last year.  

Mohd Shamsul won a judgment in default after Hadi failed to appear in court.

Mohd Shamsul had sued Abdul Hadi over his alleged statement that there was a drug dealer among PKR’s general election candidates last year, which was why PAS had nominated their own candidates in the seats allocated to PKR, resulting in a three-cornered fight in Bukit Besi.    

In his statement of claim, Mohd Shamsul claimed that Abdul Hadi’s speech in Kampung Tebakang Alor Limbat, Marang on April 22 had tarnished his reputation as a candidate and businessman.    

- Bernama