Malay broadsheet Utusan Malaysia today filed an application to the Kuala Lumpur High Court to remove PKR’s N Surendran as the lawyer for Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim in the latter's defamation case against the daily and TV3.

NONEUtusan's lawyers are claiming that Surendran cannot represent Anwar (right) in this case due to the fact the former is a member of the same political party that Anwar leads.

Surendran holds the post of vice-president at PKR, while Anwar is its de facto leader.

"They claimed there is a personal relationship," Surendran, who is also Padang Serai MP told Malaysiakini.

Anwar's other counsel for the case, Latheefa Koya, is also a PKR member but was not subject to any such application from the Umno-owned daily.

Both Surendran and Latheefa said that Anwar will "strongly resist" the application, which is set for hearing on Feb 25, next year.

Anwar is suing both Utusan and TV3 for running news reports claiming he was the "mastermind" (dalang) behind the Lahad Datu incursion in Sabah that took place in late February this year.