SHAH ALAM, Aug. 12 -- A new judge will preside over former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's defamation suit against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, following a reassignment of the case.

According to Free Malaysia Today, lawyer Alliff Benjamin Suhaimi, representing Anwar, said Judicial Commissioner Zaharah Hussain - who was scheduled to hear the matter next week - had informed the parties that a replacement judge would be appointed.

"She told us that a new judge would be assigned to take over the case and fix trial dates," Alliff was quoted as saying.

According to the report, Zaharah had previously fixed the trial for August 18 to 20.

Lawyer Rafique Rashid Ali, acting for Dr Mahathir, reportedly confirmed that the part...