The High Court in Kuala Lumpur has postponed hearing Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s bid to strike out defences in his defamation suit against Malaysiakini.

This is because Justice Kamaludin Md Said is waiting for the Federal Court to decide in another case whether those holding public office have the locus standi to file defamation suits.

“The court highlighted… that there is a pending decision at the Federal Court involving the state government of Sarawak against (state DAP chief) Chong Chieng Jen on the issue of locus standi for public authorities to file a suit for defamation.

“The decision of that is going to be delivered very soon, either by the end of this month or early March, so, therefore, the striking out matter is now being postponed for the continued hearing on April 4,” Najib’s lawyer Mohd Hafarizam Harun told reporters outside the courtroom today...