Blogger given 14 days for defence over Rais suit

(NST) – A blogger sued by Information, Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim over alleged defamatory articles was given 14 days by the High Court to defend himself.

Counsel Norhani Nordin, representing Rais, told the media that Judicial Commissioner Amelia Tee Hong Geok Abdullah ordered Ahmad Mutalib Mohamed Daud to file his statement of defence within 14 days from May 30.

Norhani said that Tee set June 30 for case management after meeting her and Michelle Yesudas, representing the blogger, with mention of the case fixed for today.

She said that Ahmad Mutalib had filed a memorandum of appearance on May 30. On May 23, Tee gave Ahmad Mutalib until today to file the memorandum of appearance.

In the last proceeding, Norhani had said that Rais would enter a judgment against Ahmad Mutalib if he or his counsel failed to appear in court on June 2.

With today’s development, Noraini said, Rais would not enter the judgment against Ahmad Mutalib.

Rais filed the suit on Feb 10 after four articles he regarded as libellous, dated Jan 1, Jan 3, Jan 5 and Jan 7, were uploaded by Ahmad Mutalib on the Sabahkini weblog.

Ahmad Mutalib, a blogger who provides independent news via his weblog, has his registered address in Kota Kinabalu.

In his statement of claim, Rais said that certain words which appeared in the articles were malicious and defamatory, and gravely injured him personally and his professional reputation nationally and internationally, where he had suffered considerable embarrassment, distress and damage.

He also said the articles were absurd and wicked in misrepresentation of his character and office.

Rais is claiming general, special, aggravated and exemplary damages and also an injunction to compel Ahmad Mutalib to remove all the libellous words and passages in the articles.