Both parties quibbled over the use of these two words to settle the suit but without achieving agreement today.

Adnan’s lawyer Americk Sidhu told reporters after meeting High Court judge Justice Nik Hasmat Nik Mohamed in chambers that “it boils down to the question of whether Utusan will use the word ‘minta maaf’ (sorry)”.

“But they said they have no instructions to use ‘maaf’ in any apology,” he said.

Meanwhile, Utusan’s lawyer M Reza Hassan said he would seek his client’s instruction on the choice of word to use.

The lawyers for Adnan and Utusan will be back in court next Monday to inform the judge on the decision over which word to use.

If the mediation fails, the trial will resume the same day.

Adnan had sued Utusan, the Umno-linked company which publishes Mingguan Utusan, in 2014 claiming the Sunday paper had tarnished his reputation as a national leader and politician through an article bearing the headline “Hebat Sangatkah Adnan?” (Is Adnan that great?).

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.

The Court of Appeal had last March struck out Adnan’s suit on grounds that a public official could not sue the media.

That ruling reversed a High Court decision in July 2015 which found that Adnan had legal standing to sue in his personal capacity.

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

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

Adnan’s lawsuit was then reverted to the High Court by the Federal Court on Feb 13.