Judge in Najib-Ling suit recuses himself

KUALA LUMPUR: A High Court judge recused himself from a defamation suit filed by Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak against Tun Dr.Ling Liong Sik as he and Ling were both members of the Royal Military College (RMC) alumni association.
According to Najib's lawyer, Datuk Hafarizam Harun, the judge, Datuk John Louis O'Hara, recused himself stating that he is a member of RMC's Old Putera Association.
The "Old Boys Association" of RMC is known as "Old Putera Association.
"The judge had recused himself to avoid any public perceptions of being an 'Old Boy' of RMC, of which, Tun Ling is also a member," said Hafarizam.
The judge had, on his own, recused himself.
There was no objection raised nor any application made by any of the parties.
"This matter will be transferred (to be heard) before another judge," said Hafarizam.
"We will wait for the official letter," he added.
On Oct 27, 2015, Najib sued Ling for defamation over an article, which appeared on Oct 3, 2015 in an online news portal.
In the statement of claim, Najib alleged that Ling had defamed him, in his speech at a ceremony at a college.
Ling had then filed a counter suit saying Najib's suit was an abuse of process, frivolous and vexatious.