In her defence filed last week, the former PPBM women’s wing chief Anina Saadudin, said the intrusion took place on Jan 18 but was “rescued” on Feb 6 and the public were informed about the matter.

Anina, who is unrepresented, in the alternative is also relying on the common defence of justification, fair comment and qualified privilege to ward off the suit filed by Ismail on March 5.

She said the comments about Ismail were not defamatory and made without malice.

Anina said Ismail was holding public office following a change of government in March last year but without going through an election.

“The defendant (Anina) as a citizen and taxpayer has the right to evaluate the performance of a minister in administering the nation,” she said in court documents sighted by FMT.

Anina said she was now an Umno supporter and had the right and responsibility to ensure the public did not hate the party.

She said her comments were also based on media reports, and thus considered fair.

In the statement of claim, Ismail said Anina had attacked him in his personal capacity 13 times between Feb 5 and March 3.

Ismail, who is also an Umno vice-president, claimed she had ridiculed him and gone overboard in posting statements and videos to “damage” his reputation in the eyes of the public.

“The postings had nothing to do with government policies and the plaintiff’s duty as a minister,” he said.

He added that Anina’s postings, among others, gave the impression that Ismail was “weak, a coward and feminine”.

Ismail also wants a permanent injunction to restrain Anina from posting her statements and videos on other social media platforms.

He is demanding an apology and an unspecified amount of damages from her.

Trial before High Court judge Mohd Firuz Jaffril has been fixed for Oct 1.

Ragunath Kesavan, representing Ismail, said an injunction granted to his client to order Anina to remove all the postings would remain enforced pending the outcome of the trial.