Anwar’s defamation suit against Hamzah set for Sept 27-28

(Bernama) — The High Court fixed September 27 and 28 as trial dates for the RM10 million defamation suit filed by opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim against Plantation Industries and Commodities deputy minister Datuk Hamzah Zainuddin.

Judicial Commissioner Rosilah Yop set the date in chambers here today.

Anwar filed the suit on Aug 22, 2008 against Hamzah, who was Housing and Local Government deputy minister at the time, alleging he uttered defamatory words which were published in an article titled “Anwar Harrassed My Wife” in the Chinese daily Kwong Wah Jit Poh dated Aug 19, 2008.

Anwar claimed that the article portrayed him as being involved in forbidden sexual activities, of having low moral standards, and as a man who had no Islamic values.

Hamzah, in his defence on Nov 13, 2008 said the words in the article were appropriate.