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Writer loses Malaysia's first online libel case
A prominent political writer and an opposition-run newspaper must pay damages exceeding US$2 million in Malaysia's first successful libel suit involving online news, a verdict the defendants slammed on Thursday as an attempt to muzzle dissent.
- AP
- Published: 10:17 March 27, 2008
Kuala Lumpur: A prominent political writer and an opposition-run newspaper must pay damages exceeding US$2 million in Malaysia's first successful libel suit involving online news, a verdict the defendants slammed on Thursday as an attempt to muzzle dissent.
The High Court in northern Kedah state ruled on Wednesday that Raja Petra Raja Kamarudin must pay 4 million ringgit (US$1.25 million) to the state-run Universiti Utara Malaysia and its vice chancellor for publishing a defamatory article on his popular news Web site in 2006.
The court also ordered a newspaper run by the opposition People's Justice Party to pay 3 million ringgit in damages for reprinting the article.
Raja Petra - who refused to attend court or appoint a lawyer to defend him - wrote on his site that he would not pay the ordered compensation, calling the case a "little charade of justice in Malaysia."
Along with other opposition activists, Raja Petra has claimed the case was mounted by government allies to target its critics.
Tian Chua, a spokesman for the People's Justice Party, said his party also refused to pay.
"This is a political move," Chua said. "It's persecution. They want to ensure the Internet will also face the same kind of prosecution if they challenge authority."
Police questioned Raja Petra last July over his articles that criticized the government.
Separately, two well-known bloggers were sued by a government-linked newspaper last year over allegedly libelous postings about the paper and its executives.
Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi earlier this week said his ruling coalition suffered heavy losses in March 8 elections because it underestimated the opposition's online campaign.
Malaysian government politicians often accuse Internet writers and bloggers of spreading rumors and lies that aim to undermine public stability.
University and Education Ministry officials could not immediately be contacted for comment.
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