Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad has been warded at the National Heart Institute (IJN) in Kuala Lumpur.
As a result, the 99-year-old’s defamation suit hearing against Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today has been postponed until Oct 29.
The nonagenarian’s counsel Mior Nor Haidir Suhaimi confirmed that Kuala Lumpur High Court judicial commissioner Gan Techiong allowed the postponement of the proceedings.
Mahathir was admitted to the IJN two days ago for treatment for symptomatic relief and chest physiotherapy.
The plaintiff was given a 12-day sick leave from Monday this week until Oct 25.
Mahathir’s legal team had written to the civil court earlier today to apply for a hearing deferment.
The plaintiff had been admitted into IJN a few times, with two previous initially scheduled trial dates earlier this year being postponed.
The former premier’s suit was over an allegation of the existence of an identity card bearing the name “Mahathir anak lelaki Iskandar Kutty”.
In his statement of defence, Zahid denied that his remark in 2017 was malicious, slanderous, or harmed Mahathir’s public reputation.
Zahid claimed the name on the IC referred to an individual based on an old copy of an identity document.
The 71-year-old also claimed he had no control over subsequent videos published on media platforms which referred to his statement.
Mahathir’s civil action is over Zahid’s speech at the Kelana Jaya party division meeting on July 30, 2017.
The former Langkawi MP claimed the then-home minister Zahid had dredged up a copy of the “Kutty” identity card.
The plaintiff alleged the remark implied he exploited the Malays for political and personal gain. – Malaysiakini