Malaysiakini raises US$123,600 in donations to cover contempt fine within hours of verdict
- The news portal launched a crowdfunding drive to help it pay the penalty after it was found guilty of contempt of court over comments posted by readers
- Malaysiakini suspended the campaign after reaching its target, while editor-in-chief Steven Gan said the website was ‘very disappointed’ with the verdict
Just hours after being fined 500,000 ringgit (US$123,600) for contempt, a leading Malaysian news portal on Friday raised the full amount for the penalty through an online fundraising campaign – with citizens decrying the court’s decision as the latest blow for press freedom in the country.
“The impugned statements had gone far and wide … the content was spurious and reprehensible in nature and the content involved allegations of corruption which were unproven and untrue,” said judge Rohana Yusuf, who chaired a seven-judge panel. The decision to convict and fine Malaysiakini was supported by six of the seven judges.
The court cleared editor-in-chief Steven Gan of any offence, but the 500,000 ringgit penalty was more than double the fine prosecutors had sought.
Soon after the verdict, Malaysiakini said it was launching a fundraising drive to help it pay the fine. “For 21 years, Malaysiakini has relied on the generosity of the public to continue its mission. We again call upon Malaysians to come to our aid,” Gan said.
In an earlier press conference, the veteran journalist said the portal he co-founded in 1999 was “very disappointed” with the verdict.