KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, the Malaysian government and five other parties have been ordered to file a statement of defence at the High Court on May 21 to respond to a summons by 11 individuals who participated in a protest against illegal houses of worship.
Lawyer Datuk Zainul Rijal Abu Bakar, representing the participants, said the court set the date during online case management on Tuesday (April 14) before Senior Assistant Registrar Nik Nur Amalina Mat Zaidan, reported Sinar Harian.
Malaysian Muslim Consumers Association communications officer Gulab Jan Fazal Eladi and 10 individuals who were arrested during the rally in February 2026 filed the suit on March 16.
The other plaintiffs are Esma Hisham Zainul Nor, Mohamad Jamalee Basah, Hishammudin Abu Bakar, Monashofian Putra, Mohamad Shafiq Abdul Halim, Jurasmadi Pauzi, Mohammad Faizal Bakhari, Elza Nadiah Shaik Sulaiman, Baharin Mohd Tahir and Iskandar Khoo Kuan Yiaw.
They named the police, Dang Wangi OCPD Asst Comm Sazalee Adam, Kuala Lumpur police chief Comm Datuk Fadil Marsus and Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Mohd Khalid Ismail as the first to fourth defendants.
Also named as defendants were Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the Malaysian government as the fifth to seventh defendants.
On Feb 8, 19 individuals comprising 15 men and four women were arrested over the rally.
According to Comm Fadil, the ad hoc gathering took place even though the police did not allow it due to security and public order concerns.
