Veteran journalist P. Gunasegaram faces an RM100 million defamation suit over public-interest commentary; groups such as CPJ and CIJ call it excessive and a possible SLAPP, but wider solidarity has been limited.

Malaysia has a pattern of high-stakes corporate and official suits against journalists and activists—especially on environment, corruption, and development—producing a chilling effect without dedicated anti-SLAPP laws or strong legal-defense networks.

The author urges legislation modeled on U.S., EU, and regional safeguards: clear definitions, early dismissal, cost protections, and judicial tools to stop abusive suits from silencing scrutiny of the powerful.

The recent RM100 million (approximately US$24.45 million) defamation suit filed against veteran journalist P. Gunasegaram has thrown a harsh spotlight on the growing use of high-stakes defamation actions in Malaysia.

The claimant seeks substantial damages for reputational harm plus injunctions requiring removal of the material and a ban on similar future commentary. Gunasegaram has refused a prior letter of demand for retraction and apology, defending the piece as fair comment on a matter of clear public interest based on public records.

What is striking is the relative silence that followed. While the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has publicly called for the withdraw the “excessive” claim, describing it as an attack on press freedom, and the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) has expressed concern that the disproportionate damages raise clear SLAPP red flags, broader mobilisation by human rights, media or journalism groups has been limited. Even the news portal with which Gunasegaram has long........

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