KUALA LUMPUR: An application for injunction by Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to prevent Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin from issuing any statement on the allegation the latter had sought help to resolve or postpone his criminal trials will be heard on Aug 8.
The hearing for the application was initially set for yesterday.
According to Ahmad Zahid’s lawyer, Baharudeen Mohamed Ariff, the new date was fixed after Muhyiddin filed an additional affidavit on July 6.
He said the court had ordered Ahmad Zahid to file his affidavit in reply before or by July 22.
“The hearing of the application has been set on Aug 8 before High Court Judge Rozana Ali Yusoff through online proceedings,” he said, Bernama reported.
In the suit filed last April 4, the Bagan Datuk MP is seeking an ex-parte injunction for Muhyiddin or his representative to withdraw the defamatory statements or similar against him.
He is also seeking an interim injunction for the defendant to delete, edit and stop the publication of part of the video footage which contained the defamatory statement in online news portals and social media, including on Perikatan Nasional’s Facebook page, Astro Awani’s YouTube channel and KiniTV.
Ahmad Zahid, 69, claimed that on Feb 16, during the 15th Johor state election campaign trail in Mersing, at the compound of the Learning Centre Sentuhan Kasih Felda Tenggaroh 3, Muhyiddin had made a defamatory statement with ill intention and malice against him.
On the same day, he said, the video footage of the defamatory statement was published on Astro Awani’s YouTube channel, which is managed by Astro Awani.
Ahmad Zahid claimed that Muhyiddin’s statement implied he had used a shortcut to settle and postpone his ongoing court cases, that he had asked for Muhyiddin’s help to intervene in the court cases and the judiciary system, to order the dissolution of the Johor State Assembly and also implied that he was not a respectable and exemplary leader.
Ahmad Zahid claimed the allegations were false and aimed at tarnishing his good name and reputation.