The High Court in Kuala Lumpur has ordered Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar to testify first as the defendant in a defamation suit filed by former opposition leader, Anwar Ibrahim.

Judicial commisioner Azizul Azmi Adnan, in allowing Anwar's application today, has fixed the hearing dates on Sept 19, 20, 22 and 23.

The decision was made in chambers today.

He also dismissed an oral application by Sarah Abishegam, who is representing Khairy, for a stay of today's ruling. Counsel J Leela appeared for Anwar.

Normally in civil suits, the plaintiff would testify first.

Anwar, who is the former Permatang Pauh MP, filed the suit eight years ago following allegations that Khairy had uttered defamatory words about him at a ceramah in Lembah Pantai on Feb 20, 2008.

Anwar claimed the video clips of the speech carried by news portal Malaysiakini.com contained the defamatory words.