An attempt to settle via mediation former opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim’s defamation suit against Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin has failed, according to Anwar’s lawyer J Leela.

She announced this to reporters after proceedings in chambers, also attended by Khairy’s counsel Sarah Abishegam, before High Court judicial commissioner S Nantha Balan.

Leela said the hearing of the suit would begin on March 7 after her proposal for settlement via mediation did not have the agreement of Khairy.

She also said that the court had retained the subsequent hearing dates of March 8 and 10 and would not allow any postponement. The court also set Feb 19 for case management, she added.

Anwar filed the suit on March 7, 2008, claiming that Khairy had uttered defamatory words about him at a ‘ceramah’ (talk) in Lembah Pantai on Feb 20 of the same year.

The former MP for Permatang Pauh claimed that video clips of the speech containing the defamatory words were carried on online portals, including Malaysiakini.com.

Khairy, in his statement of defence filed on Oct 8, 2010, said he relied on the defence of justification and qualified privilege.

Meanwhile, Leela also said that Khairy’s application to enter Anwar’s conviction in the Sodomy II case in his statement of defence would be heard in the Court of Appeal on Feb 11.

The High Court had dismissed the application on July 9 last year.

- Bernama