TUN Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who is currently hospitalised after sustaining an injury, will apply to the High Court to reschedule next week’s hearing of his lawsuit against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Mahathir’s lawyer, Muhammad Rafique Rashid Ali, said counsel for the former prime minister had been instructed to write to the court to seek an adjournment.
He added that Anwar’s legal team had also been informed of the development.
“In any event, (next week’s) hearing will not go on as Tun is hospitalised,” Rafique told The Edge.
Mahathir, who turned 100 last year, reportedly fell at his home in Seri Kembangan on Monday and is currently receiving treatment at the National Heart Institute.
According to his son, Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir, the former premier suffered a fracture to his right hip, although doctors have advised against surgery due to his age.
Mahathir had been scheduled to testify before Judicial Commissioner Datuk Donald Joseph Franklin on 13 and 14 January, during which he was to undergo continued cross-examination by Anwar’s legal team led by Ranjit Singh, Razlan Hadri Zulkifli and Aliff Benjamin Suhaimi.
The former prime minister filed the RM150 million suit following remarks made by Anwar during a Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) congress in March 2023.
At the event, Anwar alleged that Mahathir and his children had amassed wealth while avoiding tax obligations, claims which Mahathir argues had damaged his reputation.
Anwar has maintained that the statements he made were true.
Additional hearing dates on 28 and 29 January, as well as 9 February, had previously been fixed by the court. However, it remains unclear at this stage how long Mahathir will remain hospitalised. - January 8, 2025
