Rafizi Ramli's lawyer William Leong said he could not seek instructions from his client regarding the defamation suit filed by Umno Youth deputy chief Khairul Azwan Harun, as Rafizi is under police remand.

Leong, who is also Selayang MP and former PKR treasurer, said they were supposed to negotiate a settlement at the Kuala Lumpur High Court before Justice S Nantha Balan today.

"However, as Rafizi was arrested yesterday and is remanded, I cannot seek instructions. I understand the police could remand him further.

"Hence, we cannot proceed with the mediation. As a result, the case has been fixed for case management next Wednesday," said Leong.

Khairul Azuan filed the suit on Aug 1. He claimed Rafizi, who is also the founder of the National Oversight Whistleblowers, had defamed him by saying he was involved in the purchase of a Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) property in Australia.

The Umno Youth vice-chief claimed Rafizi had distributed and published defamatory statements against him at a press conference last July 6.

The plaintiff said he had held a press conference denying the statements on the same day.

Khairul Azwan, who is Biosis Group Berhad director, said the statements, among others, had questioned his alleged involvement in the purchase and business dealings regarding the 746 Swanston Street property by a company wholly owned by Mara Inc, Thrushcross Land Holdings Limited, which allegedly experienced leakages of RM63 million.

Khairul Azwan said the defamatory statements were published in online portals which could be shared by Internet users worldwide and that it had tarnished his reputation as a businessman and politician, and he was despised by the public for alleged involvement in dubious transactions, for his own financial interest.