KUALA LUMPUR – The High Court in Shah Alam has sided with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) in its defamation case against Australian political commentator Murray Hunter.
The court found that Hunter was responsible for publishing a series of defamatory and false statements about MCMC between April and November of the previous year.
In a statement issued today, MCMC noted that the publications contained serious and unfounded allegations, which misled the public and harmed the commission’s reputation.
“The publications carried serious and unfounded allegations which misled the public and damaged the reputation of the Commission,” MCMC stated.
The ruling, delivered on October 15, underlined that while freedom of expression is a fundamental right, it must be exercised responsibly and in accordance with the law.
“The right to free speech does not extend to making false, malicious, or defamatory statements that harm the reputation of others,” it added.
MCMC clarified that its decision to pursue legal action was aimed at safeguarding its institutional integrity and reinforcing accountability within the digital landscape.
This ruling follows Hunter’s ongoing legal challenges in Thailand, where he was arrested in Bangkok last month for allegedly ignoring multiple summonses from Thai authorities. He has since been granted bail and is due to appear in court again on November 17. — October 16, 2025