Why was Malaysiakini fined RM500,000 for contempt?

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Malaysiakini Fined RM500,000 for Contempt of Court Over Facilitating Reader Comments

Mkini Dot Com Sdn Bhd, the operator of Malaysiakini, was fined RM500,000 for contempt of court by the Federal Court. This decision stemmed from the news portal's facilitation of five reader comments posted on its website that were deemed to be against the judiciary. The majority decision, agreed upon by six judges, stipulated that the fine must be paid within three days from February 19, 2021.
Seriousness of the Contemptuous Act

The Federal Court considered the significant gravity of the contemptuous act, which was seen as undermining the entire system of justice. The impugned statements contained false allegations of corruption, further exacerbating the seriousness of the offence. These comments had the potential to spread both locally and internationally, and were described as spurious and reprehensible in nature.
Mitigating Factors Considered

Despite the severity of the contempt, the court did take into account certain mitigating factors. These included the apology extended by Malaysiakini and their cooperation with both the police and the courts throughout the proceedings. The news portal had promptly alerted the authorities upon being notified of the comments and had also permanently banned the subscribers responsible for posting them.
Arguments on Sentencing

During the sentencing phase, Malaysiakini's lawyer proposed a nominal fine ranging from RM20,000 to RM30,000, emphasizing the portal's immediate removal of the comments and its unreserved apology. Conversely, the Attorney General's Chambers argued for a higher fine of RM200,000, stressing the accountability of online portals and suggesting the case should serve as a reminder to similar platforms. One judge dissented, holding that neither Malaysiakini nor its editor-in-chief were in contempt.

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Why was Malaysiakini fined RM500,000 for contempt?

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