Edmund Santhara is suing Batu MP P Prabakaran for defamation over allegations linked to the former deputy federal territories minister's temporary stay in New Zealand.

The Segamat MP, through law firm N Krishnan Nair & Co, filed the writ of summons at the High Court in Kuala Lumpur on June 23.

The former PKR lawmaker's suit is over statements made by Prabakaran, who is the party's Federal Territories Youth chief, during press conferences on March 17 and May 28.