KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 11 (Bernama) -- MCA youth chief Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong today failed to obtain an interim injunction to restrain Tan Sri Robert Phang and The Star newspaper from further publishing alleged defamatory statements linking him to the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) issue.

High Court judge Dr Prasad Sandosham Abraham dismissed Wee's application in chambers after hearing submissions from lawyers representing Wee and Phang.

On Feb 9, Wee filed a defamation suit naming Phang, a Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commisssion (MACC) advisory committee member, and the English daily as defendants over a statements published between Dec 25, 2005 and Jan 12, 2010.

In his statement of claim, Wee, who is also Deputy Education Minister, claimed that the statements were understood to mean that he was involved in or committed the offence of corruption and/or abuse of power.

Besides the injunction application, he also sought general damages, aggravated damages, exemplary damages and interest at eight per cent per anum.

Phang, 71, who was also a social care foundation chairman, was present in court at 9am.

Counsel Yap Boon Haw represented Wee, while Gobind Singh Deo and Ang Hean Leng acted for Phang and Yee Mei Ken and Chai Siew Wan, for the Star.

Later, Gobind Singh told reporters that the court set March 10 to hear the interparte injunction application.

He said he had yet to file the statement of defence as he was only served the statement of claim yesterday.

He said the judge also discharged the ex-parte injunction order given to Wee on Jan 21, preventing him from holding or organising a press conference on Jan 22.

On Jan 22, his press conference to respond to a challenge by Wee was halted after 20 minutes when Wee's lawyer turned up with the ex-parte injunction order.

Phang, when approached by reporters, expressed his happiness with today's decision and said it showed that the judiciary was fair.

He said that as a member of the MACC advisory committee, it was his statutory duty to invite the public to come forward to give their evidence to assist the MACC and the police in any investigations.