The High Court in Kuala Lumpur today fixed May 31 to hear Umno president Najib Abdul Razak and the party's organising secretary Abdul Rauf Yusoh's application to strike out Malaysiakini's defence in their suit against the portal's readers comments over the 2014 Terengganu menteri besar imbroglio.

The judge decided the date in chambers.

Lawyer Surendra Ananth for Mkini Dotcom Sdn Bhd which operates the news portal said today had been initially fixed for hearing but the court then decided on case management.

Surendra said the Federal Court had yet to deliver its decision on Sarawak DAP chairperson Chong Chien Jen's appeal over a suit filed by the Sarawak government.

It was originally scheduled last month for a decision.

He said the plaintiffs (Najib and Abdul Rauf) wanted to wait for that decision before proceeding with their matter.

"As a result, Justice Kamaludin fixed May 31 to hear the application regardless whether the apex court decision is made," Surendra said.

Lawyer Nor Hazira Abu Haiyan appeared for Abdul Rauf and Najib who is also the prime minister.

Chong is appealing the Court of Appeal's majority decision allowing the Sarawak government to sue individuals for defamation.

The impact of the decision means the federal and state governments can now sue members of the public for defamation.

Najib and Abdul Rauf Najib filed their suit against Mkini Dotcom Sdn Bhd on June 3, 2014.

The suit was filed over two articles published on the website containing readers' comments on the Terengganu menteri besar imbroglio which saw Ahmad Said being replaced as the state menteri besar by Abdul Razif Abdul Rahman.

Malaysiakini had tried to remove Justice Kamaludin (above) from hearing the case but the apex court in September 2016 dismissed the news portal's bid and ruled that he would hear the case.