Malaysian Blogger Papagomo Ordered to Defend False Claim About 11 PKR MPs

The Sessions Court in Sepang ordered blogger Wan Muhammad Azri Wan Deris, known as Papagomo, to enter a defence on charges of publishing a false Facebook post. The post alleged that eleven members of the Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) had withdrawn their support for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Judge Ahmad Fuad Othman ruled the prosecution had established a prima‑facie case, rejecting the defence’s argument that the limited number of witnesses weakened the proof.

The court highlighted that such misinformation could "disturb public order and erode investor confidence in Malaysia's political and economic stability," and set defence hearings for 1, 2 and 15 September, with a final judgment scheduled for 22 October. Deputy Public Prosecutor Faten Hadni Khairuddin noted that under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, uploading false content is sufficient for liability, regardless of who originally created it. Papagomo’s lawyer, Muhammad Rafique Rashid Ali, argued there is no evidence his client originated the message, which had already spread via WhatsApp.