The High Court in Kuala Lumpur was informed today that Canadian Muslim preacher Abu Ameena Bilal Philips has paid RM30,000 as security costs for his defamation suit against Home Ministry official and local preacher Zamihan Mat Zin.

Bilal Philip's lawyer Meor Amir Meor Omar Baki told reporters outside the courtroom that the security costs were paid on Jan 29, 10 days after the High Court had been informed of the agreed sum.

Meor Amir said the court then fixed July 31 to Aug 3 for the hearing of Bilal Philip's suit.

"The plaintiff has not finalised the witness list as we intend to call several foreign witnesses," he said.

Meor Amir was speaking after appearing before High Court judge Ahmad Zaidi Ibrahim for case management today.

On Jan 19, it was reported that both Bilal Philip and Zamihan had agreed to the security costs sum.

Security for costs can be imposed if the plaintiff who files a suit is a foreigner and there is fear of him not being able to pay costs should he lose the case.

Bilal Philips, in his statement of claim, had alleged that Zamihan’s Facebook posting in November 2016 displayed a picture of him accompanied by a description calling him a supporter of international terrorism.

The posting was made ahead of a religious event held in Perlis at which the Canadian preacher was a speaker.

The Jamaican-born preacher (above) complained that the words describing him as a supporter of terrorism were false, defamatory and made without basis, given that he strove to promote peace and understanding of Islam and rejected terrorism carried out in the name of religion.

Bilal Philips, who converted to Islam in the 1970s, argued that Zamihan’s allegation meant that he was actively engaged in terrorism and violence and that his lectures were geared towards those ends.

He is seeking general damages in excess of RM1 million, to be assessed by the court, as well as aggravated and exemplary damages.

Zamihan was previously found to have defamed NGO Syria Care by the courts and ordered to pay RM50,000.