Rahim, who filed the suit early this month, said the allegation was untrue and he was not prosecuted for such an offence.

Rahim, who resigned from office in 1994, however, acknowledged police conducted investigations but the attorney-general then had announced he was not pursuing the matter due to insufficient evidence.

Mohamed, better known as Mat Sabu, is said to have made the defamatory statement before a crowd at the Penang Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) branch office on Northam Road on July 1 last year.

Mat Sabu made a speech in protest at the MACC’s arrest of Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng for alleged corruption.

Rahim said the disparaging remarks were calculated to lower his esteem among the public.

He said the statement was malicious and intended to put him in public scandal, odium and contempt.

Rahim said the statement in its ordinary meaning or by innuendo meant that he was a man of low morals and had raped a Malay girl.

He said it also meant that there was improper investigation and he was above the law.

Rahim said Mat Sabu’s speech was widely circulated in the social media like YouTube and WhatsApp.

The High Court has fixed March 6 for case management.