Malaysian news portal fined for readers' comments

Kuala Lumpur, February 19

Malaysia’s highest court on Friday found news portal Malaysiakini in contempt over comments about the judiciary posted by readers, a ruling condemned by rights groups as a clampdown on free speech.

The Federal Court found Malaysiakini was fully responsible for publishing readers’ comments that were critical of the judiciary and fined the news portal 5,00,000 ringgit ($123,762). The ruling comes on the heels of increasing concerns from rights groups over a crackdown on dissent under Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin. It could also influence how news sites and social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter manage user comments in a country where traditional media is largely pro-establishment or linked to the state.

The ruling came after Malaysia’s attorney-general last year sought to cite Malaysiakini and its editor-in-chief Steven Gan for contempt over five comments posted by readers on its website that it said undermined public confidence in the judiciary. — Reuters