Anwar’s lawyers from SN Nair & Partners said the court ordered Sanusi to file his defence statement before Feb 13 during case management today.

Anwar will then have to file a reply, if any, to Sanusi’s defence before March 13.

The court also set March 20 for the next case management.

Sanusi allegedly made the remarks in a speech ahead of the general election. A video of the speech was posted on Facebook while its contents were also reported in the media.

On Nov 17, Anwar demanded that Sanusi immediately retract his remarks. However, Sanusi said a day later he would not apologise and was ready to face Anwar in court.

The PKR president is seeking damages for slander and/or libel against Sanusi for allegedly damaging his reputation, as well as an injunction against the PAS leader from publishing or distributing the impugned remarks that are deemed defamatory.

In his statement of claim, Anwar alleged that Sanusi implied that he had abused his powers as an MP, was deceitful, a traitor, a hypocrite and not a good Muslim.

Anwar said the previous Yang di-Pertuan Agong had granted him a full pardon on June 16, 2018, for his three convictions – one for abuse of power and two for sodomy – on the basis that there was a “miscarriage of justice”.

He said the pardon was also granted on the basis that there was a conspiracy to destroy his character.