Justice Ahmad Zaidi Ibrahim set the date in chambers during which LTAT was represented by counsel Ahmad Syateer Izzat and Rafizi by Saiful Izham Ramli.

The defendant’s counsel told reporters that the court had fixed Oct 11 and Dec 18-20 to hear the case, and July 3 for case management.

LTAT filed the suit on May 6, 2016, alleging that Rafizi, in his blog and Facebook on March 21, 2016, made a disparaging statement against it with the heading, “Bayaran gratuiti pesara angkatan tentera lewat; LTAT perlu dedahkan risiko kewangan akibat 1MDB”.

The plaintiff claimed Rafizi on March 24, 2016, through Malaysiakini’s website, also made a statement with the heading, “Rafizi: I have document showing LTAT’s link to 1MDB”.

It claimed that the defendant made another disparaging statement on March 28, 2016, on his Facebook with the heading, “Laporan ketua audit negara ke atas 1MDB mengesahkan kesan masalah kewangan 1MDB ke atas LTAT”.

In its statement of claim, LTAT also alleged that the statement issued by Rafizi implied, among others, that it had failed to protect the interests and welfare of retired personnel and did not have the financial capability to pay the latter.

LTAT is claiming general and exemplary damages and an injunction to restrain or prevent the defendant from further publishing defamatory statements against it.