Sungai Besar Umno division chief Jamal Md Yunos has filed a bid to strike out a defamation suit against him by former energy, science, technology, environment, and climate change minister Yeo Bee Yin.

Yeo’s lawyer Sankara Nair confirmed this when met after case management of the lawsuit at the Kuala Lumpur High Court this morning.

In 2017, Yeo filed the legal action against Jamal (above) over an allegation of abuse of funds from Yayasan Warisan Anak Selangor (Yawas). 

Sankara today said Jamal’s striking-out application was filed on June 25, on the grounds that the defamation suit was premature.

“The defendant filed the application to strike out our client’s suit (on alleged grounds) that there is an MACC investigation going on (over the allegation of funds abuse), therefore (purportedly) making the suit premature,” he added.

Sankara (photo) said Justice Rozana Ali Yusof fixed July 23 for the court to hear Jamal’s striking-out application.

The lawyer added that the judge also fixed the main suit for hearing over a five-day period from Nov 9, in the event that the court dismisses the striking-out bid.

Jamal was represented by lawyer Mohamad Fauzi Abdul Samad. Neither Yeo nor Jamal was present at court.

On April 28, it was reported that the main suit will go for a full trial, following both parties having failed to reach a settlement through a mediation process. 

On June 14, 2017, Yeo filed the legal action to seek RM5 million in compensation from Jamal, over a statement linked to the Yawas fund issue.

In the statement of claim, the Bakri MP claimed that the defendant had issued a defamatory statement on March 21, 2017, which was published by several newspapers, online news portals, and on Jamal’s Facebook account.

Yeo also seeks compensatory, aggravated, and exemplary damages as well as an injunction to prevent Jamal from repeating the allegations.

Yeo Bee Yin's suit against Jamal Yunos will go to trial

Yeo Bee Yin's suit against Jamal Yunos will go to trial

Jamal Yunos withdraws application to have defamation suits heard jointly

Jamal Yunos withdraws application to have defamation suits heard jointly

Jamal Yunos applies to have defamation suits by Yeo and Kok heard jointly

Jamal Yunos applies to have defamation suits by Yeo and Kok heard jointly

Yeo's defamation suit against Jamal likely to be settled amicably - lawyer

Yeo's defamation suit against Jamal likely to be settled amicably - lawyer