The High Court in Kuala Lumpur today postponed to Sept 29 and 30 the hearing of a defamation suit by International Trade and Industry Ministry Mustapa Mohamed against PAS vice-president Husam Musa.  

Mustapa, who is also the Kelantan Umno liason committee chairperson, is suing Husam and four others for allegedly making defamatory statements in relation to Felda Global Ventures Holdings Berhad (FGV).

His lawyer Abdul Hakeem Aiman Mohd Affandi told the media that Judge Nor Bee Ariffin set the date in chambers in the presence Husam’s lawyer Mohd Fitri Asmuni and Azhana Mohd Khairuddin who represented the other four defendants, PAS, PAS secretary-general and Harakah newspaper permit holder Mustafa Ali, its chief editor Zulkifli Sulong and editor Azmi Yusof.    

He said Mustapa applied for the postponement due to an official visit to China from May 26 to June 1.

The hearing was initially set for four days from May 26.

On April 22, Mustapa filed a defamation suit against Husam, then a Kelantan state executive council member, PAS, Mustafa, Zulkifli and Azmi.  

In his statement of claim, Mustapa said that during a political speech at Tapak Expo Machang, Kelantan, on March 23 this year Husam had made defamatory statements against him in connection with the FGV shares.  

He further claimed that the alleged defamatory statements were posted by the other four defendants on harakahdaily.net the following day. Mustapa, 63, claimed that the statements implied, among others, that he was a corrupt leader and politician, not credible and a politician who abused his power for his personal gain and for other Umno leaders.   

He is seeking damages for libel, exemplary damages as well an injunction to prevent the defendants from publishing the same material again.

- Bernama