PM’s aide applies to strike out Mukhriz’s suit

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister’s press secretary Datuk Seri Tengku Sarifuddin Tengku Ahmad is applying to strike out a defamation suit filed by Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir against him on the grounds that it is scandalous.

Tengku Sarifuddin’s lawyer Ooi She Yi said the application was filed yesterday.

Speaking to reporters after the parties met High Court Judicial Com­missioner Roslan Abu Bakar in chambers, Mukhriz’s lead counsel Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla said the court had set Oct 11 to hear Tengku Sarifuddin’s application.

On the advice by JC Roslan for the parties to go for a mediation to find a possible settlement, he said: “We gave a suggestion (to the defendant) on the terms. The suggestion was not in writing.”

Mukhriz is suing Tengku Sarifuddin for allegedly implying he practised dirty politics.

In his statement of defence filed on June 13, Tengku Sharifuddin, 54, said the statements were published on an occasion of qualified privilege without any malice.

Among others, Tengku Sarifuddin said his media statements were made in his official capacity to prevent rumours or political alle-gations against the Prime Minis-ter.

In his statement of claim, Mukhriz, 51, said that Tengku Sarifuddin had issued four libellous media statements between April 15 and April 26 against him.