Adnan’s lawyer, Americk Sidhu, said the trial dates were fixed today after a case management before judge Yeoh Wee Siam.

“Two witnesses for the plaintiff will take the stand while the defendant will have nine,” he told reporters.

Lawyer M Reza Hassan appeared for Utusan Melayu (M) Berhad, which publishes the daily, Utusan Malaysia, and Mingguan Malaysia on Sundays.

On Feb 13, a five-man Federal Court bench chaired by Chief Judge of Malaya Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin ordered a trial so that Adnan could have his day in court.

The bench had set aside a Court of Appeal ruling which allowed Utusan’s appeal to strike out Adnan’s suit on grounds that a public official could not sue the media.

Zulkefli said whether Adnan had brought the suit in his public or private capacity could only be determined after a trial.

In July 2015, Justice Yeoh refused Utusan’s application to strike out the suit as Adnan had an arguable case to be tried.

In the suit, filed in 2014, Adnan said Utusan had tarnished his reputation as a national leader and politician through an article in Mingguan Malaysia, under the headline “Hebat Sangatkah Adnan?”.

He claimed the article, published on Nov 9 that year, implied he had failed in carrying out his duties and overstayed his position as menteri besar.

Adnan said the article also implied that he had used his political position to abuse the media when it was critical of him.