Anifah fails in bid to include Anwar’s past convictions in defamation suit

Datuk Seri Anifah Aman wants to include opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s past convictions in a defamation suit. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, January 20, 2015.

Datuk Seri Anifah Aman was today allowed to amend his defence in a defamation suit brought by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, that the opposition leader had offered him cash to cross over to Pakatan Rakyat (PR) in order to bring down the Barisan Nasional (BN) government in 2008.

However, judicial commissioner Siti Khadijah S. Hassan Badjenid dismissed the foreign affairs minister's application to include a Federal Court observation that Anwar had homosexual tendencies.

She also disallowed Anwar's previous convictions for corruption and sodomising his one-time aide, Mohamad Saiful Bukhari Azlan, to be brought up in this trial.

"I am not allowing all these in this trial as it is highly prejuducial to the plaintiff (Anwar)," she said in her ruling after hearing submissions from lawyers appearing for Anwar and Anifah.

Lawyer Razlan Hadri Zulkifli later told reporters that Anwar would take the stand on February 17 to be cross-examined by Anifah's lawyers.

"I will also have the opportunity to re-examine my client," he said.

- TMI