Sistem Televisyen Malaysia Berhad (TV3) and former BN candidate for Permatang Pauh Mazlan Ismail have proposed that PKR president Anwar Ibrahim’s defamation suit against them be settled out of court.

Another defendant, Utusan Melayu (M) Bhd, has been advised to take instruction on whether to settle, according to Anwar’s lawyer Sangeet Kaur Deo.

Anwar had sued TV3, Utusan and Mazlan in 2015 for implying that he had bribed the judiciary and the Attorney-General's Chambers.

"Two of the defendants (TV3 and Utusan) have made proposals for settlement. We have extended a counter-proposal, so terms are in the process of being settled between two defendants and ourselves.

“The third defendant (Utusan) is taking instruction as to whether or not they are going to settle.

“We are fixed to come back here on Friday, hopefully to record a settlement with those who are ready," Sangeet told reporters after meeting High Court Judicial Commissioner Faizah Jamaludin in chambers today.

Utusan's counsel Azhar Arman Ali said he will await further instruction from his client.

In Anwar's statement of claim filed from 2015, he said Mazlan uttered the defamatory and malicious words in a press conference on Aug 2, 2013.

He also claimed that Mazlan had caused TV3 to air the alleged defamatory words on its primetime news broadcast 'Buletin Utama', and Utusan Malaysia to publish it the following day, without contacting him for verification.

Anwar also pointed out that Mazlan had lost the Permatang Pauh seat to him by a difference of 11,721 votes in the 2013 general election.

As a result, he added, he was seriously defamed and brought to contempt and public ridicule, resulting in him suffering losses and damages.