The Federal Court’s three-member panel chaired by Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat dismissed Jamal’s application, saying the apex court was not satisfied with the argument by Jamal’s counsel, V Mugunthan, for leave to appeal to be heard on its merits.

“This is a unanimous decision, whether this matter has merit for arguments in the Federal Court. We (the bench) are not persuaded in granting leave to appeal.

“Hence, we dismiss the application with costs of RM30,000,” said Tengku Maimun, when delivering the decision through teleconferencing after hearing submissions from Mugunthan and Gurdial Singh Nijar, who acted for Maria.

The other judges on the panel were Harmindar Singh Dhaliwal and Zabidin Diah.

On March 8, the Court of Appeal dismissed Jamal’s appeal to set aside a High Court decision that held him liable for defaming Maria, who is now the Petaling Jaya MP.

The appellate court, however, allowed Jamal’s appeal to reduce the quantum of damages awarded by the High Court to Maria from RM300,000 to RM150,000.

Maria had sued Jamal for defamation for linking her and Bersih with the Daesh militant group.

In her suit filed on Oct 7, 2016, she claimed that Jamal had uttered slanderous words against her and Bersih, which were picked up and published by online, print and electronic media, during a press conference at World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur on Sept 28, 2016, and later at the Bukit Aman police headquarters on Oct 4, 2016.