Anwar obtains judgment in default against Khairy

(Bernama) — Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin today failed in his bid to set aside a judgment in default obtained by Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in a RM100 million defamation suit.

Anwar’s counsel S.N.Nair told reporters that High Court Senior Assistant Registrar Nazri Yahya dismissed with costs Khairy’s application to set aside the judgment in default.

Anwar was also represented by counsel Wan Anwar Shadat, while Datuk Seri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah and Badrul Munir Bukhari appeared for Khairy.

On Dec 4, 2008, Anwar obtained a judgement in default from the High Court against Khairy when he failed to enter an appearance after the writ of summons had been served on him.

Khairy filed the application to set aside the judgement on Feb 20, 2009.

Anwar, 63, filed the suit against Khairy on March 7, 2008 claiming that Khairy, as the then Umno Youth vice chief, had uttered defamatory words and caused the posting on websites including Malaysiakini.com a video clip entitled “Anwar and kin no threat”.

Anwar claimed the video clip on Malaysiakini.com contained defamatory words spoken by Khairy at a ceramah in Lembah Pantai, Kuala Lumpur on or about Feb 20, 2008.

He said the defamatory words, among others, meant he was involved in activities contradictory to Islam, did not have good character and was not fit to hold political or other positions.

He sought RM100 million in aggravated and exemplary damages as well as other relief deemed fit by the court.