PETALING JAYA: After the Federal Court’s decision today to fine Malaysiakini RM500,000 for contempt of court, the Malaysian Bar expressed its concern about the long-term impact on media freedom. Bar President Salim Bashir also urged the Malaysian people, “by writing nefarious and malicious comments online and in the media,” to refrain from violating the right to free expression. He also …

KUALA LUMPUR  – On Friday, Malaysia’s highest court found the Malaysiakini news portal in contempt of court over comments made by readers considered insulting to the judiciary, in a case widely seen in the Southeast Asian nation as a measure of media freedom. Malaysia’s attorney general filed an application last year to cite Malaysiakini and editor-in-chief Steven Gan for contempt …

The Federal Court agreed to consider the contempt of court proceedings against Malaysiakini over the remarks posted by its users on the news site claimed to have been in defiance of the judiciary. The seven-man jury of the Federal Court headed by Datuk Rohana Yusuf, Chairman of the Court of Appeal, stated that there was prima facie reason to continue. …