In Malaysia, the authorities have used an overbroad ‘offensive communication’ law to criminalize journalists and bloggers.
TrialWatch
TrialWatch monitored the case of blogger Dian Abdullah, who was prosecuted under the law for posts critical of the King and Prime Minister. In June 2023, our TrialWatch initiative filed an amicus brief before the Shah Alam High Court in the case of another defendant who previously faced charges under the law for commenting on conditions at a refugee detention center.
This is not the only way in which the authorities are using the law to chill online expression. In another case monitored by TrialWatch, an independent news outlet was convicted of contempt of court for unmoderated online comments on its site critical of the judiciary.
In May 2023, with other organizations, we sent a letter to Malaysia’s Home Affairs Minister and to the Minister of Law urging that the government repeal the Sedition Act, another law used to target free speech, and one that successive administrations promised to repeal but failed fulfil their promises.
Our monitoring in Malaysia is part of broader work to combat cybercrime laws in the region, including in Indonesia, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.
Just days after the TrialWatch report was released on the trial of Dian Abdullah, a 65-year-old blogger who was tried for ‘offensive communication’ for criticizing the government and the monarchy’s management of the COVID-19 pandemic, the prosecution offered to settle the case for a fine.
TrialWatch has since leveraged the monitoring and reporting in Abdullah’s case to file an amicus...
Malaysia: No Prison Sentence for Blogger
Just days after the TrialWatch report was released on the trial of Dian Abdullah, a 65-year-old blogger who was tried for ‘offensive communication’ for criticizing the government and the monarchy’s management of the COVID-19 pandemic, the prosecution offered to settle the case for a fine.
TrialWatch has since leveraged the monitoring and reporting in Abdullah’s case to file an amicus submission in an affirmative challenge to the law under which she was convicted.
Instead of adding to its tally of prosecutions based on vague laws, Malaysia should dismiss the charges against Dian Abdullah and make good on its offer to review some of the legislation at issue.
Legal Director TrialWatch
