The High Court in Kuala Lumpur has today fixed July 4 for clarification or a possible decision on Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's inter parte injunction application against Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua, over a Facebook Live posting made by Pua last April.

Najib claims that the words used in Pua’s Facebook Live video post implied that the prime minister had abused his powers by directing the cabinet, through the Dewan Rakyat speaker, to allow the tabling of amendments to Syariah Court (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 (Act 355) by PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang.

Justice Mohd Zaki Abdul Wahab fixed the date in chambers after both parties exchanged submissions on the matter.

“The parties are to give their replies by June 29, if there are any,” said lawyer Gobind Singh Deo, who appeared for Pua.

Justice Mohd Zaki replaces judicial commissioner Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh who recused himself two weeks ago from hearing the suit.

Wan Ahmad Farid had recused himself in the interest of preserving justice and fairness, citing his previous experience as an active politician. He had served as deputy home minister in Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's cabinet before being elevated to the judiciary.

Najib's lawyer Mohd Hafarizam Harun told reporters that the court today had also extended Najib's temporary injunction to July 4. The injuction had been previously granted by Justice Abu Bakar Jais, when Najib originally filed the suit on April 21.

This is the second defamation suit that Najib has filed against the DAP lawmaker. In 2015, he sued Pua over comments linking the premier with the 1MDB scandal.