The High Court in Shah Alam yesterday rejected an application by former Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail to obtain documents on the settlement of a Bank Islam loan by former Selangor menteri besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim in connection with a defamation suit against him (Saifuddin).

Judge Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah made the ruling after finding the application filed by Saifuddin had no merit.

The court also fixed four days starting May 18 for the hearing of the suit.

On Aug 18 last year, Abdul Khalid filed a defamation suit against Saifuddin in his personal capacity and as PKR secretary-general (when the suit  was filed) on the distribution of a report titled ‘Decision to Replace Selangor Menteri Besar’ dated Aug 4, 2014 which allegedly defamed the former menteri besar.

Apart from claiming damages, Abdul Khalid, in the suit filed through Tetuan Bon also sought an injunction to prevent Saifuddin or his representatives, employees or staff from publishing, producing, distributing, printing or causing words which defamed him (Abdul Khalid).

On Jan 9, Saifuddin filed an application to obtain from Abdul Khalid several documents on an out-of-court settlement of a loan between the former Selangor menteri besar and Bank Islam on the grounds that the documents were important to support his defence against the suit by Abdul Khalid.

Abdul Khalid in his affidavit-in-reply among others said he did not allow the out-of-court settlement terms to be exposed without the consent of Bank Islam as he was bound by a non-disclosure agreement.

The former menteri besar said if the settlement terms were to be exposed, it could prejudice and affect settlement between him and Bank Islam.

Apart from that, Abdul Khalid, who is the assemblyperson for Port Klang, described Saifuddin’s application as having bad intention and that the latter was merely on a fishing expedition.

- Bernama