The date for Deputy Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Tajuddin Abdul Rahman's defamation suit against Shah Alam MP Khalid Abdul Samad, video portal KiniTV and New Straits Times has been fixed by the Kuala Lumpur High Court.

Following case management of the matter this afternoon, Justice Nordin Hassan fixed the court date for March 26 to 29, 2018.

Tajuddin sued Khalid over a series of press conferences that started when the former referred to Seputeh MP Teresa Kok in Parliament as "the only woman with a Kok," which prompted Khalid to respond by calling him "sial" (damned) on Nov 21 last year.

A press conference was held outside the House shortly after, wherein Khalid reiterated his "sial" statement and questioned Tajuddin’s behaviour.

Tajuddin’s suit, filed by law firm Murthi & Partners, claimed that Khalid’s statement was defamatory, as it implied that Tajuddin is a not a good Muslim, condemned to hell, morally decrepit, and unfit to be an MP and deputy minister.

He is also suing NST for the carrying the comments, as well as KiniTV for publishing a recording of Khalid's press conference.

The Shah Alam MP, who is now Parti Amanah Negara communications director, held the press conference after he was attacked by a group that included Tajuddin's son on Parliament grounds.

The attackers were charged under Section 14 of the Minor Offences Act 1955 – which carries a fine of up to RM100 – which Khalid called “an insult, not only to me as a MP, but also to the parliamentary institution.”

Tajuddin filed the suit as the various defendants allegedly did not respond to his letter of demand.

However, KiniTV, through parent company Malaysiakini, had in fact responded to the letter of demand, which was acknowledged by representatives of the law firm.

Malaysiakini's letter said the video that KiniTV published was a news report on a matter of public interest, given that Tajuddin was engaged in an open debate with Khalid. It also offered Tajuddin a right of reply.

Tajuddin is seeking general damages, aggravated and/or exemplary damages, interest at a rate of five percent a year on the amount that would be awarded as damages, costs, as well as other reliefs deemed fit by the High Court.