Malaysiakini today failed to recuse High Court judge Justice Kamaludin Md Said from hearing the suit by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak against the news portal.

The decision was made by Justice Kamaludin in Seremban, where he is now stationed.

The judge also ordered the news portal to pay RM2,000 in costs.

The judge ruled that his appointment and instruction from Chief Judge of Malaya Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin to hear the case was only administrative in nature.

Justice Kamaludin said he has not heard the case on its merits and that he also did not mediate the dispute.

For this reason, he should not recuse himself from hearing the case.

Lawyer Ashok Kandiah informed the news portal of today's decision.

Najib and Umno are suing Malaysiakini for compilations of readers' comments in two ‘Yoursay’ articles published on May 14, namely ‘A case of the PM reaping what he sows ’ and ‘How much will Najib spend to keep Terengganu?’ .

Malaysiakini editor-in-chief Steven Gan said the prime minister and Umno should have presented their views, which would have been published on the website, rather than pursuing libel proceedings against media organisations.

This offer was rejected by Najib and Umno.

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