This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on June 25, 2019

KUALA LUMPUR: DAP leader Lim Kit Siang and former inspector-general of police (IGP) Tun Mohammed Hanif Omar have been told to appear in court on Aug 28, after both parties failed to settle their dispute.

Kit Siang, 78, filed a defamation suit against Mohammed Hanif over a speech by the latter at a convention last September.

Lawyer Rayveni Asogan, who acted for Kit Siang, said both parties indicated to High Court Justice Datuk Azimah Omar yesterday that they had failed to reach a settlement.

“Thus, the judge has instructed us to bring the clients (Kit Siang and Mohammed Hanif) to the court. She wants to see them and see whether she is able to work something out.

“Otherwise, the case will proceed to trial,” Rayveni told reporters after the matter was called for case management in chambers yesterday.

Kit Siang filed the suit against Mohammed Hanif, who is the sole defendant, on Oct 17 last year, claiming that the former IGP had defamed him in a speech at the “Karamah Bangsa” convention at Universiti Teknologi Mara in Shah Alam on Sept 6 last year, which was published by Malay daily Sinar Harian.

In the statement of claim, Kit Siang, who is Iskandar Puteri member of parliament, stated that Mohammed Hanif had wrongfully and maliciously caused the alleged defamatory words to be published on the news portal Malaysiakini and Free Malaysia Today on the same day as well as on the next day.

Kit Siang claimed that the alleged defamatory words, among others, were intended to mean that he intended to order DAP to split Peninsular Malaysia into two parts with the intention of separating the Malay and Chinese community.

He also claimed that the alleged defamatory words had affected his reputation as a member of parliament and public figure.

Kit Siang said a letter dated Sept 12, 2018, was sent to Mohammed Hanif seeking that he retract the alleged defamatory words and apologise.

However, Mohammed Hanif responded to the letter, denying that he made the alleged defamatory words against Kit Siang.

Kit Siang is seeking general, aggravated and exemplary damages.

Lawyer Datuk M Muralee Menon appeared on behalf of the former IGP yesterday.