Kuala lumpur: The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) today obtained a default judgment against the administrators of two Telegram channels, Edisi Siasat and Edisi Khas, over the publication and circulation of 33 allegedly defamatory and harmful articles.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, MCMC's lawyer Wong Guo Jin announced that High Court Judge Mahazan Mat Taib approved the commission's application for default judgment due to the failure of the unidentified channel administrators to submit a memorandum of appearance by the required deadline set by the court. The assessment of general and exemplary damages will be determined at a later date.
The MCMC initiated the application for default judgment on September 25, following the defendants' failure to file an appearance and acknowledge service by September 10. The final deadline for filing a defence was September 24, but no such defence was submitted. The court has scheduled November 27 for case management to review MCMC's default judgment application against Telegram Messenger Inc., the third defendant in the suit.
The court's default judgment declared that the administrators of Edisi Siasat and Edisi Khas had facilitated the publication and distribution of harmful content on their platforms. It also issued a mandatory injunction for the immediate and permanent removal of false, threatening, and offensive content, and prohibited further publication of such material by the administrators or their agents.
Additionally, a restraining injunction was granted to prevent the release of similar content. A default judgment, in this context, refers to a court decision made against a party that fails to fulfill procedural requirements in a case, without necessitating a full trial.
On October 30, the court granted an Erinford injunction to the MCMC against Telegram Messenger Inc. and the channel administrators, halting the publication or circulation of the 33 articles in question until the conclusion of an appeal at the Court of Appeal. MCMC's lawsuit, filed on May 21, named the anonymous administrators and Telegram Messenger Inc. as defendants, alleging a coordinated campaign against the royal institution and public bodies since February 6, 2024.
MCMC accused the defendants of spreading false and misleading information aimed at disturbing public order, undermining national governance, and inciting dissatisfaction and hatred towards the Malaysian Government. In a statement, MCMC's lawyer Datuk SN Nair emphasized the judiciary's serious stance on the misuse of digital communication channels and the harm caused to individuals and public institutions.
Nair noted that the anonymity of the channel administrators does not shield them from legal responsibility. The orders empower MCMC to enforce its rights and recover damages and legal costs if the identities of those behind the channels are revealed. MCMC remains committed to preventing the exploitation of digital platforms for unlawful activities and will continue collaborating with authorities and service providers to ensure compliance with Malaysian law.