An Australian journalist has broken his silence after being indicted in Thailand for blog posts critical of Malaysia's communications regulator, in what rights groups call an unprecedented case of transnational repression.
From Academic to Accused
Murray Hunter, a 67-year-old academic-turned-journalist who has chronicled Malaysian politics for over a decade, finds himself at the centre of an international legal battle that could imprison him for two years.
The case stems from Substack articles Hunter published between 13 and 29 April 2024 discussing what he perceived as tightening speech restrictions under Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's government.
"I noticed there's been a real tightening of freedom of the press and freedom of speech," Hunter told The Independent, noting the government had essentially prohibited public commentary on the "three Rs" of race, religion and royalty.
The Unusual Legal Strategy
Malaysian authorities took an unusual approach to target Hunter, who lives outside their jurisdiction. Instead of pursuing the matter through civil courts, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) contacted Thai police to file a criminal defamation complaint.
This resulted in Hunter's arrest on 30 September at Bangkok airport as he and his partner prepared to board a flight to Hong Kong. "It came as a shock," he recalled.
Officers escorted him to a Bangkok police station where he spent the night in a lockup before being taken to court for bail the next morning. He's now out on bail without his passport and faces trial on 22 December.
Life in Legal Limbo
Hunter describes his current situation as "total turmoil." Without his passport, he cannot travel, open bank accounts, or even book hotel rooms. Renewing his short-term stay permit became a crisis when officials told him he'd need to travel 500km to Bangkok.
"I have only got four days left on my stay and then they say they can't process this," Hunter said. "I just don't know how long this will last."
Before his arrest, Hunter had noticed strangers "lingering around the house" in Hat Yai, southern Thailand, compelling him to "move residence for a while."
A Warning to Journalists Everywhere
Hunter describes his case as "transnational SLAPP" - Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation - where governments use foreign legal systems to silence critics.
"You are going to have transnational SLAPP actions to silence critics who don't live in the country they are reporting on," he warned.
Phil Robertson of Asia Human Rights & Labour Advocates Consultancy accused Malaysia of "blatant transnational repression" and Thai officials of allowing themselves to be "played for fools" by the MCMC.
Despite the legal pressure, surveillance and personal turmoil, Hunter remains defiant. "A lot of people tell me that I go to the edge, but I believe I am reporting the facts," he said. "I don't regret doing that. You know, I would do it again."
He added: "The opportunities now to expose the truth through freedom of the press and free speech is actually under attack, and I think it's going to get worse."
