THE hearing of Anwar Ibrahim’s defamation case against TV3, which was scheduled to begin today, was postponed to tomorrow after the judge called in sick.

Anwar’s lawyer, Latheefa Koya, said High Court judge Rohani Ismail was on medical leave because of a slipped disc and will be replaced by justice Ahmad Zaidi Ibrahim.

“The new judge will need a day to read through the court documents,” Latheefa told reporters at the Kuala Lumpur court complex today.

Anwar arrived at the court complex at 8am and left at 12.30pm after spending some time with his wife, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

Anwar filed the suit on March 8, 2013, claiming that Utusan Malaysia published an article on its front page titled, “Ketua Pembangkang dikaitkan dengan pencerobohan?” (Opposition leader linked to intrusion?) and an article on page nine with the title “Tiga kumpulan menjadi dalang” (Three groups responsible) on March 2, 2013.

(In 2013, Filipino militants invaded Lahad Datu, Sabah, to claim the area on behalf of the Sulu sultan.)

Anwar named Utusan Melayu (M) Bhd and its group editor-in-chief, Abdul Aziz Ishak, as defendants.

The matter was resolved with the two defendants submitting a statement of regret and both pledged that they, or their agents, representatives and workers, would not publish, repeat, or cause the said words to be published again.

Anwar said the report was also aired on TV3’s Buletin Utama between 8pm and 9pm the same day.

Besides Utusan Melayu and Aziz, Anwar also named TV3, Media Prima Berhad group managing editor Shaharudin Latif and Buletin Utama news editor Ing Boon Seng as defendants.

The suit against TV3 continues. – July 10, 2017.