Najib vs Pua: Judge strikes out two paragraphs and exhibits from Pua's affidavit

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak succeeded in expunging two paragraphs and exhibits in Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua's affidavit relating to 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).
High Court Judge Datuk Roslan Abu Bakar said that paragraphs 9 and 10 of the affidavit did not follow proper procedure and are "hearsay and inadmissible".
He said Pua did not follow requirements of the Rules of Court 2012, did not state the source of information and reasons why the defendant relied on that information.
However Najib failed to strike out parts of Mediarakyat.com owner Chan Chee Kong's statement of defence on the grounds that it is not facts but fair comment.
Roslan fixed May 30 to hear Pua's application to strike out Najib's defamation suit against him.
In a immediate response, Pua's counsel Gobind Singh Deo said he will study the grounds of the decision before deciding whether or not to appeal.
In the suit filed on March 5 last year in his personal capacity, Najib had named Pua, 42, and Chan Chee Kong, 51, owner of online portal Mediarakyat.net, as the first and second defendants.
He added that the publication of the defamatory words had damaged his reputation, which would continue for years because the recording of the speech could be accessed widely and easily throughout the world via the internet, blogs, forums and websites without any restriction and could be reshared.
Najib is seeking general damages, exemplary damages, costs and an injunction to prevent the first and second defendants or their agents from further publishing the defamatory words against him.