KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court has allowed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's application to postpone the trial of his defamation suit against Pendang Member of Parliament Datuk Awang Solahuddin Hashim to October 2026.
The suit is related to Awang Solahuddin's claim that Anwar was vengeful and abused his powers as prime minister and finance minister for political expediency.
Datuk SN Nair, who appeared for Anwar, said Judge Datuk Ahmad Shahrir Mohd Salleh rescheduled the trial, which was supposed to start on 20 January, to 26 October 2026.
The senior lawyer said the postponement request was made because Anwar is scheduled to travel abroad for official duties. Nair said his client would be the sole plaintiff witness in the trial.
Meanwhile, lawyer Mohd Faizi Che Abu, representing Awang Solahuddin, confirmed the trial's postponement. He said the defence would present three witnesses during the trial.
On 3 March last year, Anwar filed a lawsuit naming Awang Solahuddin as the sole defendant.
Anwar said that Awang Solahuddin made defamatory statements regarding his alleged vengeful attitude towards prosecution when speaking to the media on 21 February last year.
Anwar said that Awang Solahuddin deliberately defamed him even though he had publicly denied the allegations.
The Tambun MP also said he did not interfere with the duties and powers of enforcement agencies and the Attorney General's Chambers.
Anwar said Awang Solahuddin was fully aware of his public commitment to combat corruption and his strong support for the independence of investigative institutions, prosecution, and the judiciary.
Awang Solahuddin was reported to have made statements regarding selective prosecution when speaking to the media in the Parliament lobby on 21 February last year.