Malaysiakini's editor-in-chief Steven Gan arrives at the Federal Court in PutrajayaKUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia's highest court on Friday found news portal Malaysiakini in contempt of court over comments posted by readers deemed offensive to the judiciary, in a case widely seen as a test of media freedom in the Southeast Asian nation.
In a six to one decision on Friday, a panel in the Federal Court ruled that Malaysiakini held full responsibility for its website, including whatever is published. Malaysiakini and Gan have maintained they could not be held responsible and the offending comments had been immediately removed after they were contacted by police.
In January, Gan said reporters should not "give up" in the face of what he described as "harassment" by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s government.