KLIA syndicate: 'Thanos' threatens to sue Mkini, demands compensation

KLIA syndicate: 'Thanos' threatens to sue Mkini, demands compensation

Published: Sep 26, 2025 1:15 PM
Updated: 3:29 PM


An individual who claimed himself as “Thanos” but denied involvement in any syndicates has threatened to sue Malaysiakini following its reports related to corruption at the country's entry and exit points.

Last week, he issued a notice of demand through the law firm, Hamzan Daiza & Associates, claiming that Malaysiakini had published defamatory reports against him.

The news reports referred to “Phantom travel: Another syndicate plaguing KLIA” and “Syndicate at KLIA: 'Thanos' transferred to another unit, source says.”

"It has had a profound effect on our client's work and has caused mental distress to him," said the lawyers.

They added that these reports had allegedly caused their client to suffer from “reputational damage” and exposed him to threats.

The "defamatory remarks”, they explained, had also been widely spread across various social media platforms by internet users, causing their client to receive public condemnation.

Further, the lawyers explained that based on their client’s lower grade and rank, he did not possess the authority to perform the actions allegedly mentioned in the articles.

They stressed that the information published by Malaysiakini was “baseless”, with the intent to embarrass their client and damage his reputation.

Thanos has therefore demanded a formal apology from Malaysiakini, the retraction of the articles, and a written guarantee not to publish further defamatory statements about him.

The news portal is also required to pay damages and compensation - the amount of which shall be agreed upon by Thanos - following the alleged injury, reputational harm, and hardship he has suffered.

Malaysiakini has been given seven days to comply with the demands, before legal action is pursued, with the costs and expenses to be borne by the publication.

Fair and neutral

Malaysiakini has since responded to the letter of demand, maintaining that both reports were produced fairly and neutrally, and were not defamatory.

"In any case, our client was just doing their job as journalists to report on an issue of public interest," according to Malaysiakini's response letter, issued through the firm Kanesalingam & Co.

Malaysiakini has also offered Thanos the right of reply in the articles, subject to standard editorial policies.

On June 22, Malaysiakini revealed the existence of another syndicate at KLIA called "phantom travels", which allows government officials to travel abroad without immigration records.

The named individual, “Thanos”, had been mentioned when a source from the immigration headquarters in Putrajaya claimed that the officer possessed “extraordinary wealth” despite his low rank.

On July 30, about a month later, the portal reported that Thanos had been transferred from an immigration management team unit at KLIA Terminal 2 to another unit involved in office work.

A source with the immigration headquarters considered the transfer a "punishment" for Thanos.

Thanos is allegedly also a friend of another immigration officer who had been reported to the police for being linked to the “fly” syndicate, which Malaysiakini also exposed earlier this year.