Friday, February 19, 2021

Fine against Malaysiakini a body blow in fight against corruption

Malaysiakini (relevant extracts):

Malaysiakini fined RM500,000 for contempt of court



Malaysiakini editor-in-chief Steven Gan

'A body blow in fight against corruption'

Responding to the decision, Gan said Malaysiakini was very disappointed with the decision.

"The decision flies in the face of the fast-changing new media landscape in this country.

"It will have a tremendous chilling impact on discussions of issues of public interest and it delivers a body blow to our continual campaign to fight corruption, among others," he said.

Gan referenced the offending comments which appeared in an article dated June 9 last year titled “CJ orders all courts to be fully operational from July 1”.

"A few months ago, the chief justice said the judiciary shouldn't be blamed for the dropping of charges because the public prosecutor was the one responsible for the dropping of any charges.

"Fair enough that a lot of Malaysians were very upset and concerned over the dropping of charges (against key personalities) and some of our readers may have gone overboard in criticising the decision and attacking the wrong target," he said.

Gan added that in an environment where everyone has a megaphone through a vibrant social media, it was important for the media to explain, educate and illuminate.

"I think the decision made against us and the hefty fine that has been put against us is perhaps an attempt to not only punish us but shut us down.

"I am terribly disappointed. What crime has Malaysiakini committed that we are forced to pay RM500,000 when there are individuals charged with abuse of power for millions and billions who are walking free?" he said.


7 comments:

  1. Malaysia learn from and emulates CCP

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    Replies
    1. very ccp indeed, but thankfully no one missing yet.

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    2. Wakakakakakaka…

      What a chorus of the f*cked magnitude!

      Fart filled well is in crisis!

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  2. Ini semua AG Ikan Haru(a)n punya pasal. He and his brother Art......oh oh better watch what I say, nanti KT kena arrested.....ha ha ha......

    But the Federal Court made a grave error. 500k fine is too small. So Easy to raise in 5 days. The judges will be embarrassed by the support Malaysians will give to free speech. No need even for the Milo Tin. That would be a bigger slap in the face for the judiciary than “contempt of court”. Contempt of the Federal Court judges. Nah, In Your “Learned” Faces...

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    Replies
    1. Ha ha ha...didn't take even 5 hours.

      So is AG Ikan Haru(a)n going to demand the names and charge the 10,000 donors with contempt of Federal Court Judges?

      QUOTE
      Malaysiakini exceeds RM500k fundraising target for hefty court fine

      Malaysiakini Team

      Published 19 Feb 2021

      Malaysiakini has exceeded its RM500,000 fundraising target in under five hours.
      UNQUOTE

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    2. I wonder how much Wee KHAT Siong and other MCA leaders donated? Or were they planning to ask poor Penang Hawkers to donate to Malaysiakini?

      QUOTE
      Malaysiakini raises enough to settle fine in four hours
      FMT Reporters -February 19, 2021

      PETALING JAYA: News portal Malaysiakini has managed to raise the RM500,000 it needs to pay the fine imposed by the Federal Court this morning, just hours after starting a fund-raising drive.

      At the time of writing, a total of RM552,321 had been raised, according to the site.

      Thanking its readers and the public for their support, Malaysiakini said it was currently deciding on what to do with the excess funds.

      DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang said the show of support for the online news portal was most encouraging.

      He added that it was a “great sign that the dream for a more open, just and free society in Malaysia is not dead, but is still very much alive”.

      Along with Lim, 49 other DAP MPS, senators and assemblymen have each donated RM1,000 to Malaysiakini in a sign of solidarity.

      “At the same time, DAP Malaysia will also donate RM10,000 to Malaysiakini,” they said in a joint statement, urging other Malaysians to follow suit.
      UNQUOTE

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  3. Why has action not been taken against Najib for his contempt of Court statements criticising 1MDB witnesses ?

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