The High Court in Kuala Lumpur has fixed March 1, next year to hear Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's application to set aside attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali's contempt proceedings against him.

Justice Hanipah Farikullah set the date in chambers following case management today.

The judge also ordered lawyers representing Lim to file the application within three weeks from today.

Senior federal counsel Mazlifah Ayob, who appeared for Apandi, told this to reporters.

Apandi was granted leave by Justice Hanipah to initiate contempt proceedings against Lim on Sept 21.

It was reported last month that Lim had indicated to the court that he would apply to set aside the contempt application.

Apandi in his originating summons filed on Aug 18, claimed Lim had allegedly committed contempt by making statements that the charges against him were a conspiracy that would put him in jail and the statements taken as a whole gave a clear meaning that the “courts is also involved in the alleged conspiracy” on “trumped up corruption charges”.

The press conference was held after Lim launched the ‘Dr Wu Lian Teh Symposium’ by the Penang Institute in July at Jalan Brown, George Town.

Apandi is seeking to commit Lim to jail for contempt for issuing statements through social and/or print media that he knew or should have known would threaten the administration of justice, undermine public confidence in the judiciary, and insult the dignity and integrity of the Malaysian courts.

He is also seeking for Lim to pay the costs incurred by the committal proceedings, and any other reliefs deemed fit by the court.