Date set for Anwar's RM100 mil suit against Hamid

KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court here today fixed June 23 for the hearing of Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anuar Ibrahim's RM100 million defamation suit against former home minister Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar over a newspaper article.
Judge Datuk Nik Hasmat Nik Mohamad fixed the date in chambers after meeting with Anwar's counsel K. Muralidharan and senior federal counsel Tengku Intan
Suraya Tengku Ismail, who is representing Syed Hamid.
Muralidharan later told reporters that he would be calling five witnesses for the hearing, while the defendant will be calling Syed Hamid as its sole witness.
Anwar had named Syed Hamid as the first defendant and the Malaysian government as the second defendant, alleging that the former home minister had uttered defamatory words against him at the Parliament lobby on July 2, 2008 and the statement appeared in The Star newspaper on July 3, 2008.
Anwar said the article portrayed him as a traitor and an untrustworthy person who is disloyal to the country, religion and the people.
Apart from the RM100 million, Anwar is also seeking exemplary damages, costs and other relief deemed fit by the court. – Bernama