A FORMER DAP vice-chairman today failed to dismiss Mukhriz Mahathir’s defamation suit against him over social media statements he made implying that the former Kedah menteri besar had a secret pact with DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang.

Tunku Abdul Aziz Tunku Ibrahim’s application was rejected by justice Nordin Hassan, who found that the statements had indeed referred to Mukhriz, besides other issues in the suit that warranted a hearing.

The court ordered the applicant to pay RM4,000 in costs to Mukhriz and set four days for trial on January 11 and 12 and January 18 and 19 next year.

The respondent was represented by counsel Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla while Tunku Abdul Aziz was represented by Jahaberdeen Mohamed Yunoos.

Mukhriz, 53, who is Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) deputy president, filed the suit on February 7, alleging that Tunku Abdul Aziz  had disparaged him on December 30 last year through a statement titled, “Memang Wu­­jud Pakatan Sulit antara Tun Ma­hathir dan Kit Siang”, which was carried by the AIDCNews blog.

Mukhriz claimed that on January 1 this year, he publicly denied and called upon the defendant through a notice of claim to prove his insinuation, failing which he would take legal action.

But on January 3, the defendant allegedly issued another media statement titled, “Tunku Abdul Aziz gesa Mukhriz, Kit Siang buat pe­ngakuan bersumpah”. – Bernama, October 31, 2017.