Murray Hunter taught at Universiti Malaysia in Perlis state until 2015, and has written for a number of Malaysian news sites and regional publications. (Photo: Thai Lawyers for Human Rights)Malaysia has withdrawn a criminal defamation complaint lodged in Thailand against an Australian journalist, his lawyer said on Tuesday, after he agreed to apologise and take down articles deemed defamatory. The charge of criminal defamation carried a maximum prison sentence of two years and a fine of up to 200,000 baht. The settlement included an agreement for Mr Hunter to apologise and take down articles deemed defamatory, according to Akarachai Chaimaneekarakate of Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, who handled his case. The group said it opposed the “use of criminal defamation and strategic lawsuits to silence writers and journalists”, urging governments not to use defamation laws to “suppress public interest expression or enable cross-border repression”.

Source: Bangkok Post February 17, 2026 08:23 UTC