Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali J:

Introduction

[1] This is an application filed by the plaintiffs for the present suit to be tried together with a set of three other suits under O 4 r 1 of the Rules of 2012. At the conclusion of the hearing via Zoom, the application, which was opposed by all defendants in this suit and all parties in the other suits, was dismissed, and the principal grounds for the decision were highlighted to the parties. This judgment contains the full reasons for my decision.

Key Background Facts

[2] On 4 June 2018, Synergy Promenade Sdn Bhd ("Synergy Promenade") filed a defamation action ("Suit 26") against Tan Sri Sharil Ab Samad. The former is the seventh defendant in the instant suit whilst the latter is the second defendant.

[3] On 12 June 2018, Synergy Promenade filed a suit against New Straits Times Press (M) Berhad ("NSTP") and its journalist Che Wan Badrul Alias ("Suit 31") for alleged defamation for publishing various news articles.

[4] On 17 May 2019, Synergy Promenade filed another defamation action against NSTP and another of its journalist, Ahmad Suhael Adnan ("Suit 22"). NSTP and its two journalists are not parties in the instant suit.

[5] Pursuant to