Anwar’s lawyer, Alliff Benjamin Suhaimi, said the direction was issued during case management today before senior assistant registrar Elizabeth Low.

Alliff said Mahathir’s lawyers must file their response by July 6.

The next case management will be held on July 7.

In his lawsuit, Mahathir alleged that the statements were made by Anwar in his capacity as the prime minister and, as such, had a far more devastating effect on him compared with similar statements made by ordinary citizens.

He said the allegations eroded his status as a statesman and former prime minister.

He wants Anwar to retract all defamatory statements made against him and published both on mainstream and social media.

Mahathir said Anwar’s alleged defamatory statements were intended to dent his image among members of the public as they were viewed and heard by a wide spectrum of people.

He also wants Anwar to extend an unconditional apology and undertake not to repeat the same or similar statements in the future.