Blogger Jeff Ooi will have to keep 13 allegedly defamatory postings off his blog Screenshots pending a hearing on March 6 in relation to a defamation suit against him.

Lawyer for New Straits Times Press (NSTP), Cecil Abraham, said this after meeting Justice Abdul Malik Ishak in chambers at the civil high court in Wisma Denmark, Kuala Lumpur this morning.

Another of NSTP's lawyers, Sunil Abraham, told reporters that both parties have agreed not to publish anything that risks prejudicing the defamation suit.

The statement read: "By agreement, all parties henceforth agree not to publish any articles, comments or posts regarding the dispute presently before the High Court in this action that may be regarded as subjudice or that may prejudice the fair trial of the case."

Ooi's lawyer, Haris Ibrahim (photo), told malaysiakini that the judge would first deal with the striking out application before hearing other matters when the parties meet in court on March 6.

"The interparte injunction and the setting aside of the ex parte injunction will be fixed for mention that day. If the striking out application is successful, the defamation suit against Ooi will be dropped and there will be no injunction left to contest," he said.

More than 20 supporters turned up in support of Ooi including bloggers Ahirudin Attan, Marina Mahathir, Nuraina Samad and Syed Azidi Al-Bukhary (better known as Sheih).

The ex parte injunction obtained by NSTP on Jan 11 ordered Ooi to remove the alleged defamatory postings posted on his blog between Feb 16 and Dec 4 last year. This was initially to have been done by Jan 17.

The injunction restrains Ooi, whether by himself, or through his employees and agents, from republishing these posting in his blog or on the web, until the disposal of the defamation suit.

Ooi is being sued by NSTP, its deputy chairperson Kalimullah Hassan, group editor-in-chief Hishamudin Aun and former group editor Brenden Pereira.

Ahirudin, who hosts Rocky's Bru, is similarly being sued by NSTP, Kalimullah, Hishamuddin, Pereira and chief executive officer Syed Faisal Albar.