KUALA LUMPUR: The Kuala Lumpur High Court today fixed Dec 14 for mention of the RM500 million defamation suit filed by Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat against Bintulu member of parliament (MP) Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing.

Deputy Registrar Hilmiah Yusof fixed the date in chambers, ordering both parties to file their affidavits beforehand.

On Dec 14, the court is expected to fix a hearing date for the suit and another date to hear an injunction sought by Ong to prevent Tiong from further making statements that are deemed defamatory.

Ong was represented by counsel Ronnie Tan Tuan King, while Harjit Sandhu appeared today on behalf of Tiong's counsel Prem Ramachandran, who was not present in court.

In a press statement issued through his lawyers, Ong said he had been "obstructed" by various challenges in and outside MCA and was determined to face them, whether in court or in the political arena.

"(Ong) wants to vindicate himself of all elements of suspicion in his pursuit of transparency and accountability in the Barisan Nasional government," Tan said, reading from a written statement.

The embattled MCA president filed the suit here on Aug 28 over an allegedly defamatory statement by Tiong, who claimed that he had given Ong RM10 million to finance MCA activities.

In his statement of claim, Ong said Tiong's statement was made in bad faith to prevent a fair investigation into the the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) and its turnkey contractor, Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd, of which Tiong is CEO.

Ong also stated that the allegation was untrue and demanded that Tiong, who is chairman of the Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club (BNBBC), retract his statement and issue a public apology via major newspapers.