Malaysian top court rules news portal guilty of contempt

PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysia’s top court ruled Friday that a popular online news portal was guilty of contempt for publishing readers' comments that criticized the judiciary, a landmark case slammed by media groups as a clampdown on press freedom.

Attorney General Idrus Harun filed contempt proceedings against Malaysiakini and its Editor-in-Chief Steven Gan over comments made by five readers on its portal last year that he said undermined public confidence in the judiciary.

A seven-member panel in the Federal Court ruled 6-1 that Malaysiakini was liable for third-party comments but exonerated Gan. It fined Malaysiakini 500,000 ringgit ($123,685).

Gan warned the ruling could restrict discussion of issues of public interest.

“It will affect not just Malaysiakini. The decision will place an undue burden on media organizations, companies and millions of social media users ... it has a chilling affect on freedom of expression in Malaysia," he told reporters.

“In an environment where we have a vibrant social media today, it is imperative we explain, we illuminate, we educate ... instead of trying to punish media organizations like Malaysiakini," he said.

Gan also said the hefty fine, more than double what prosecutors sought, was unfair and “an attempt to perhaps not just punish us but to shut us down."

Prosecutors have said the portal should be held responsible for publishing the comments. But defense lawyers argued there was no intent of mischief, as the portal was unaware of the comments and had immediately removed them after it was notified by police.

Center for Independent Journalism, a media watchdog, tweeted Friday that it stands in solidarity with Malaysiakini and “strongly condemns efforts by the state to intimidate and threaten media freedom and...