The High Court today set this Aug 25 to hear the RM100 million defamation suit filed by opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim against Foreign Minister Anifah Aman.

The suit was related to the minister’s remarks during a media conference in Washington five years ago.

Judge Siti Khadijah S Hassan Badjenid set the date in chambers after meeting with counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah who represented Anifah, and counsel Latheefa Koya who represented Anwar.

Latheefa, when met by reporters, said the court had fixed Aug 27-29 for the trial.

“In addition, Sept 15-17 and Oct 8 are also set as the trial dates while May 2 is set for the case management,” she said, adding that eight witnesses, including Anwar and Anifah will give evidence during the hearing.

The case is fixed for trial after the Federal Court ordered it to be reverted to the Hight Court for hearing last April 1.

The Federal Court made the decision after rejecting an application from Anifah to allow an appeal against the Court of Appeal’s ruling on Jan 25, 2013, which revived Anwar’s civil suit against Anifah in the minister’s personal capacity.

On Jan 6 2011, High Court Judge John Louis O’Hara struck off the suit after allowing an application from Anifah and the government to strike it off in connection with the remarks made by the minister in May 2009 during a media conference at the State Department in Washington.

On May 27 2008,  Anwar sued Anifah, in his official and personal capacity, and the Malaysian government against the minister for allegedly defaming him during Anifah’s joint media conference with the then United States secretary of state Hillary Clinton.

He claimed that Anifah’s remarks were baseless and had been reported widely in the local and foreign media.

- Bernama