Lawyer Rafique Rashid Ali, appearing for the two-time former prime minister, said judicial commissioner Zaharah Hussain proposed this when the matter came up for case management today.

“Both legal teams told the court they would seek their clients’ instructions on the proposed mediation,” he told FMT.

The court then fixed the matter for further case management on Jan 6 next year.

Anwar was represented by Phoebe Loi.

Zaharah also instructed both parties to file their trial documents before the next case management date.

Mahathir is suing Anwar for statements made at a PKR congress on March 18, 2023, which allegedly referred to him as a racist and claimed that he had enriched his family while in office.

In his lawsuit, he alleged that the statements were made by Anwar in his capacity as prime minister and, as such, had a far more devastating effect on him than similar statements made by ordinary citizens.

He said the allegations had eroded his status as a statesman and former prime minister.

Mahathir wants Anwar to retract all allegedly defamatory statements made about him and publish on both mainstream and social media.

He said Anwar’s allegedly defamatory statements were intended to dent his public image as they were viewed and heard by a wide spectrum of people.

He also wants Anwar to extend an unconditional apology and undertake not to repeat the same or similar statements.