Court dismisses Najib's application for stay to file defence

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak's application for a stay of the filing of statement of defence was dismissed by the High Court here today.
Najib had filed for an application of stay of the filing of statement of defence in a civil suit filed by former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and two others.
High Court judge Abu Bakar Jais ordered the statement of defence to be filed by June 9.
Abu Bakar said the defendant stated that the application is in relation to questions of law.
"However, a question of law can only relate to striking out an application and it does not relate to stay application," said Abu Bakar.
"I am ordering the defence to be filed," he said.
He said the defendant did not allude to the facts pertaining to the stay application.
Mahathir, Datuk Seri Khairuddin Abu Hassan and Anina Saadudin had sued Najib for alleged misfeasance of public office, on March 23, 2016.
Najib had filed an application to strike out the civil suit, together with a supporting affidavit for the application.
The judge also fixed June 23 to hear Mahathir's application for Najib to appear in court for cross-examination by his counsel over certain facts.