Murray Hunter retracts MCMC articles under settlement with regulator

Political commentator Murray Hunter has publicly apologised and retracted a series of articles about the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), as part of a settlement agreement with the country’s internet regulator.

In a statement published on 14 January 2026 via Substack, Hunter wrote: “I acknowledge that my comments and articles about MCMC and its related persons can be read to be inaccurate, misleading and have led to misunderstandings.”

“I therefore apologise and regret if such actions caused any damage to MCMC and/or related persons, and I hereby fully retract all such comments and articles in their entirety.”

The retraction applies to multiple articles published between April and November 2024 on Hunter’s Substack and other platforms. These were alleged by the MCMC to contain false and defamatory content.

The apology follows legal complaints lodged in both Malaysia and Thailand.

On 16 October 2025, the High Court in Shah Alam ruled that Hunter was liable for defamation in a civil suit brought by the MCMC. He has stated previously that the case was conducted without his knowledge and may have proceeded by default.

Separately, Thai authorities acted on a criminal defamation complaint filed by the MCMC. On 29 September 2025, Hunter was arrested at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok while attempting to travel to Hong Kong. He was released on bail of 20,000 baht, but remains barred from leaving the city pending court proceedings.

According to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR), Hunter was charged under Section 328 of Thailand’s Criminal Code, which addresses defamation by publication. The charges relate to four articles published in April 2024.

The contested content had accused the MCMC of exceeding its regulatory powers, acting under political influence, and engaging in acts of censorship. Specific claims included website blocking, content takedowns in coordination with social media companies, and politically motivated enforcement.

One article had alleged that MCMC chair Salim Fateh Din used the commission to protect personal interests. Others described the agency and police as acting like a “thought police” and undermining democratic norms.

Rights advocates have condemned the case as an example of a transnational SLAPP (strategic lawsuit against public participation). Such actions are widely viewed as intended to intimidate or silence critics through legal pressure.

The Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand (FCCT) issued a statement on 19 November 2025 expressing “great concern” over the charges, stating: “The way the law operates is a serious threat to freedom of expression.”

“The charges against Murray Hunter should be dropped, and he should be released immediately,” the FCCT said. It also noted that the blog posts were in English and unlikely to have had significant impact within Thailand.

Phil Robertson, director of Asia Human Rights & Labor Advocates, also criticised the prosecution, calling it “a travesty of justice” and an example of how Thailand’s legal system could be used to “defend Malaysia’s dirty laundry.”

In Malaysia, digital censorship was also reportedly applied. The MCMC is said to have instructed internet providers to block access to Hunter’s Substack site.