Raja Nong Chik vs Nurul Izzah: Judge recuses herself

KUALA LUMPUR: A High Court judge has recused herself from hearing a defamation claim involving two public figures.

Justice Yeoh Wee Siam transferred the case to be heard by another judge after hearing an oral application by a former Cabinet minister's lawyer Shahir Ab Razak.

Former minister Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin has sued Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar and two others for allegedly defaming him over the sale of land in Bukit Kiara.

"The court has allowed Raja Nong Chik's oral application to recuse Justice Yeoh, based on her disclosure previously that she (Yeoh) was a registered voter in Lembah Pantai constituency and had voted in last general election," Nurul Izzah's lawyer K. Shanmuga told reporters.

In his libel suit filed on July 17 last year, the former senator had named Nurul Izzah, online news publisher Mkini Dotcom Sdn Bhd and its reporter Lu Wei Hoong as defendants.

"We will wait for the registry to fix a case management date for the suit. The previous trial dates has been vacated," he added. Lawyer Thevini Nayagam appeared for Mkini.

In his claim, Raja Nong Chik is seeking a court order to force the defendants to publish an apology, on his terms.

Apart from damages, Raja Nong Chik also wants an injunction to stop the defendants from publishing any libellous words against him.

He said Nurul Izzah has caused the publication of libellous and false statement against him at a press conference to the media on May 4.

He said Nurul Izzah has caused similar statements to be published in the Malaysiakini online news portal in two versions - Malay and English - on the same day.

He said the words implied that he has misused his position as the Federal Territories and Urban Well-being minister for his personal interest and gain.