BN strategic communications chief Abdul Rahman Dahlan’s defamation suit against PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli over the latter's allegations on Expo Negaraku has been set for case management on May 17.

The Kuala Lumpur High Court told both parties today to list their agreed and disagreed facts on the case by then.

“The judge asked the counsels to sit down to try and narrow down on the agreed facts,” said Rafizi’s lawyer William Leong.

Leong and Rahman’s lawyer Riza Hassan.were speaking to reporters after case management before High Court judge Mohd Zaki Abdul Wahab this morning.

Rahman is suing Rafizi over the latter’s claim of nepotism in the awarding a RM37 million contract to organise Expo Negaraku, an event held last year to highlight the government’s achievements.

Rafizi had claimed that the project was awarded to Pico Integrated Exhibit Sdn Bhd CEO Raslan Dahlan, who he said was Rahman’s brother.

Rahman later denied being related to Raslan. Rafizi subsequently removed a blog post carrying the allegation and apologised to Raslan.

Nevertheless, the Pandan MP insisted that there were still unanswered questions regarding the exposition, such as how the large cost was justified, and why the contract for organising the event was not displayed on the government’s procurement portal.

Rahman, in his suit filed on Jan 30, is seeking general damages, aggravated damages, exemplary damages and costs from Rafizi, as well as an apology.