KUALA LUMPUR: The Shah Alam High Court's ruling finding Murray Victor Hunter liable for defamation in a suit brought by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) reaffirms that free speech is not an absolute right; it must be exercised responsibly and is contingent upon legal boundaries.
In a statement today, MCMC said the judgment serves as a clear legal precedent that the right to express opinions does not confer a license to make false, malicious, or defamatory statements that harm the reputation of others.
“MCMC therefore initiated this legal action to protect its institutional reputation and uphold the principles of accountability, integrity, and responsible communication within the digital ecosystem,” it said.
According to MCMC, Hunter had published a series of articles containing false and defamatory statements against the commission between April and November 2024, which carried serious and unfounded allegations that misled the public and damaged its reputation.
Earlier, MCMC stated that police reports had been lodged in Malaysia and Thailand in April and June 2024 over these publications.
MCMC said that Hunter, an Australian blogger based in Thailand, produced content that was accessible in Malaysia.
A civil suit was subsequently filed against him in Malaysia, and the court papers were served to him in Thailand.
Last month, he was arrested in Bangkok after failing to comply with summonses related to the case from Thai authorities.
