KUALA LUMPUR, May 29 — The High Court here today set July 31 for case management of Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s libel suit against former MCA president Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik over an article published in a news portal two years ago.

Judge Datuk Nor Bee Ariffin fixed the date in chambers in the presence of lawyer Nik Alia Hanafi, representing Najib, and lawyer Villie Nethi, acting for Dr Ling.

Nik Alia said the date was set while waiting for the decision of the Federal Court in two appeal cases involving Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and Bandar Kuching member of parliament, Chong Chieng Jen.

She said the appeals were over the issue of locus standi, that is, whether public officials could file a defamation suit in their personal capacity.

Nik Alia also said that Najib’s application to strike out parts of Dr Ling’s statement of defence, relying on fair comment and qualified privilege, had not been heard yet by the court as it was still waiting for the Federal Court’s decision on the two appeal cases.

Najib had sued Dr Ling on Oct 27, 2015, alleging that the former transport minister had made a libellous statement against him through an article carried by a news portal.

In his statement of claim, Najib stated that Dr Ling had falsely and maliciously issued a slanderous statement against him when attending a function at a university college here, which was published in a news portal article on Oct 3, 2015.

On July 18, 2016, the court allowed Najib’s application to set aside the affidavit of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad that was filed in support of Dr Ling’s application to strike out Najib’s lawsuit. — Bernama