KUALA LUMPUR: National Oversight and Whistleblowers (NOW) director Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir has filed a bid to strike out a defamation suit against him over allegations of fund abuse at the Malaysian Islamic Economy Development Foundation (YAPEIM).

Akmal’s counsel Abd Halim Abdul Karim today confirmed his client had filed the striking-out bid on April 11.

Akmal is being sued by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom, who is in charge of Islamic affairs.

Jamil Khir is suing over allegations that he misused YAPEIM funds to fund a 2014 trip to the United States, among others.

Halim said one of the reasons cited for the striking-out is that Jamil Khir had no “locus standi” (legal standing) to file the legal action as he was suing in his official capacity as a minister.

“The court has set this Friday (May 13) for case management of the striking-out application,” said Halim after attending today’s case management of the suit in the chambers of High Court judge Datuk Nor Bee Ariffin.

Lawyer Adnan Seman @ Abdullah, who acted for Jamil Khir, said the court had also vacated trial dates initially set for three days from Aug 22.

Adnan said this was due to the court having other cases to hear on those dates. He said the new hearing dates set are for three days beginning Jan 23 next year.

Jamil Khir filed the suit on Nov 19 last year, claiming that Akmal, who is also Johor PKR publicity chief, made the allegation to the media and uploaded to NOW’s Facebook page six days earlier.

Jamil Khir, who is also Jerai member of parliament, seeks general, aggravated and exemplary damages, and an apology to be carried on the FB pages of Akmal and NOW, as well as on national newspapers, among other reliefs.-nst