The Kuala Lumpur High Court has ordered Dr Mahathir Mohamad to testify as a defence witness of Sungai Besar Umno division chief Jamal Md Yunos over a defamation suit filed by Bersih chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah.

Justice Mohd Zaki Abdul Wahab today dismissed Mahathir's application to set aside the subpoena served on him by Jamal.

The High Court judge ruled in his chambers that Mahathir is a relevant witness following his comments on Bersih 3.

"He is also the home minister when Maria's husband Yunus Lebai Ali was detained under the Internal Security Act in 1987," the judge said.

This was confirmed by Mahathir's lawyer Ilyani Khuszairi and Jamal's lawyers, Mohd Nasser Yusof and V Mugunthan.

The court has fixed Jan 24 for Anwar to testify as Maria's witness and March 7 to 9 for the defence to present its case.

Maria has filed a suit against Jamal for defamation over his claims in September and October 2016 that Bersih is infiltrated with Islamic State.

In May 2012, Mahathir had defended the police's use of force against participants of Bersih 3.0.

“What are the police supposed to do? Allow the hooligans to do what they like? Accept being kicked by the hooligans? Accept having their patrol cars being smashed and overturned?” he had penned in his blog.

However, after embarking on a campaign against Prime Minister Najib Abdul Abdul Razak, the former premier made an appearance at the Bersih 4 rally in 2015 and participated in the Bersih 5 rally the following year.