Government lawyer Ahmad Terrirudin Mohd Salleh said Justice Mohd Zaki Abdul Wahab fixed the date after hearing submissions in chambers.
Terrirudin said the government was objecting to Jamal’ summons as Fuzi was not a material and relevant witness.
“Maria ‘s arrest and detention under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (Sosma) 2012 has no relation to the Special Branch when Fuzi was its head,” he told reporters.
Terrirudin, who was assisted by Habibah Harun, said it was another branch of the police force which held and questioned Maria.
Jamal’s lawyer V Mugunthan said Fuzi was a material witness as he could reveal why Maria was picked up by the police.
“He would have the knowledge why she was arrested and this will help in the defence of my client,” Mugunthan added.
Fuzi was Special Branch director before his promotion in September.
In her lawsuit, Maria claimed that Jamal had, on Sept 28 last year, falsely uttered slanderous words against Bersih during a press conference outside the Putra World Trade Centre.
She also claimed that on Oct 4 last year, Jamal had uttered similar slanderous words against Bersih during a media conference in the Bukit Aman police headquarters compound.
She said the media and news portals later published the statements.
In the statement of claim filed on Oct 7, 2016, Maria said she had been brought into public scandal and had her reputation and good name tarnished.
She is seeking general and aggravated damages, as well as an injunction to stop Jamal from uttering or publishing similar words, either verbally, in print, or online.
Jamal has informed the court that he also intends to call former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, former IGP Khalid Abu Bakar, Kuala Selangor OCPD Roslan Abdullah and Johor PKR chief Hassan Karim.
These witnesses, he said, were expected to lend credence to his defence of fair comment and justification in response to Maria’s suit.