KUALA LUMPUR, May 26 — Lembah Pantai Member of Parliament Nurul Izzah Anwar’s defamation suit against Utusan Melayu (Malaysia) Berhad and its Editor-in-Chief Datuk Ishak Aziz has been set for mediation on July 2.

High Court judge Datuk Hue Siew Kheng set the date in chambers during the presence of Nurul’s lawyer Azhana Mohd Khairuddin and Nor Hazira Abu Haiyan who represented Aziz and Utusan.

Azhana, when met by reporters, said the mediation would be presided by judge Datuk Hasnah Mohammed Hashim.

Azhana said if both parties could not reach any settlement during the mediation presided by judge Datuk Hasnah Mohammed Hashim, the matter would go for a full trial for two days from Aug 21.

In the lawsuit filed on Nov 23, 2012, Nurul Izzah alleged that various articles published in Utusan Malaysia between Nov 5 and Nov 7 in relation to its report on her statement on freedom of religion, were defamatory.

In her statement of claim, Nurul Izzah, who is also Parti Keadilan Rakyat vice-president, claimed that four articles published by Utusan Malaysia on Nov 5 and 7, 2012 were defamatory.

Nurul Izzah is seeking an apology, retraction of the defamatory allegations against her within 24 hours and damages. — Bernama