The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has secured a judgment against two purported “whistleblower” channels in a lawsuit involving them and the Telegram messaging platform.
The judgment was entered in default after the channels – Edisi Siasat and Edisi Khas – failed to respond to MCMC’s lawsuit.
MCMC effected substituted service of the lawsuit on the channels’ administrators earlier this year by publishing advertisements in several English and Malay newspapers.
Neither channel responded to the suit.
Lawyer Wong Guo Jin, appearing for MACC, said Justice Mahazan Mat Taib granted his client’s application for a default judgment today.
The court also fixed Nov 27 for further case management.
The court previously issued an Erinford injunction restraining Telegram from republishing harmful content and directing the shutdown of accounts carrying material capable of undermining public trust in institutions and threatening social stability.
The court took note that MCMC had filed an appeal against its refusal to grant an order requiring Telegram to block or shut down future accounts that disseminate similar harmful content.
On June 19, MCMC announced that it had sued Telegram and the two channels for allegedly spreading harmful content that could erode trust in public institutions and threaten social order.
The anonymous channels gained notoriety by publishing whistleblower-style exposés, usually targeting public institutions and enforcement agencies.
Though unofficial, their posts frequently gained traction and triggered public debate.
