KUALA LUMPUR: The Shah Alam High Court has fixed July 8 for case management in a defamation suit filed by former Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki against businessman Albert Tei.
The matter is fixed before deputy registrar Nur Hidayah Abd Mutalib.
Azam filed the writ of summons on Monday, claiming that Tei had defamed him in a podcast that was aired on several platforms, namely YouTube, YouTube Shorts and Tei’s own social media.
In his statement of claim, Azam said Tei, who was the host and operator of the podcast, had published the podcast on May 13 on his YouTube channel that could be accessed by the public.
Two other individuals, known as Alif and Rafidah Ibrahim, also appeared in the podcast.
Azam denied the allegations made by Tei, saying that he had never met or communicated with the Tei except for a meeting with his lawyer on Jan 20, 2025.
“All of the allegations, claims and disses made by Tei in the publication were false, baseless and defamatory,” he said.
Azam also claimed that the defamatory statements were not made spontaneously but were part of a calculated plan by Tei.
The plaintiff is seeking a declaration that the statements were false and defamatory to him.
The former MACC chief also sought an unspecified amount of general damages as well as aggravated and exemplary damages, interests and costs.
He is seeking an injunction to stop the defendant, his workers or agents from publishing or distributing the defamatory statements and a court order for Tei to remove the publication in seven days.
In a press statement issued by Messrs Zain Megat & Murad, who represented Azam, it said their client maintained that the allegations were baseless and untrue.
The law firm said Azam commenced legal proceedings to vindicate his reputation and good name built over nearly four decades of public service.
When met by reporters after his court proceedings yesterday, Tei said he had yet to be served with the writ of summons.
Tei was in court for a mention in his criminal case, where he is facing five charges of bribery involving a former senior political secretary of the Prime Minister.
