Cocky Aussie “HRD” gets humbled

Jan 16: How a disgraced former lecturer like Murray Hunter got elevated to the status of human rights defender beats me. But that was the title bestowed on the Australian living in Hatyai by a motley group led by Aliran to try and help Hunter out of a legal mess he had brought upon himself. 

Fortunately, Siamese law does not give a hoot about whether you’re called an HRD or you’re white. If you’re based in Thailand and you think it is safe to defame someone or something in Malaysia, you’re wrong. 

Hunter knows this now (I had told him so in several postings on this blog but he was too cocky to listen). And so, after all his bravado about counter-suing the MCMC and challenging the system that neighbouring countries like Malaysia and Thailand have put in place to safeguard their interest and uphold their laws, Hunter wasted little time to get down on his knees (figuratively, of course) and go on record to say sorry to the MCMC, its chief commissioner Tan Sri Mohamed Salim Fatih Din, and a whole lot of people he had mentioned or slandered in the articles which he had to attach below. 

Hunter has never had much good to write about Malaysia. Those he badmouthed in the four articles below included Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and the Malaysian media (something to note for the new Malaysian Media Council). 

There are other articles on Malaysia, the government, the Bumi policies, and even the Royalty that he had written which convinced me he is not just obsessed with this country, he may have an axe to grind, too.

In any case, Hunter is yet another reminder that we who write on blogs, the Internet, social media do not exist in a vacuum. We are governed by laws and regulations, just like the journalists in the mainstream media are, and the onus is on us to ensure that we don’t cross the line. 

Be humble, be fair.

Below is the public apology that Murray Hunter had to issue on Jan 13 to escape a total of 8 years in Thai prison and USD25k fine for defaming MCMC and Salim.

MCMC and I have discussed and reached an understanding via a Settlement Agreement. 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 list of the said comments and articles in Schedule 2 and Schedule 3 of the Settlement Agreement with MCMC is attached herein.

  

SCHEDULE 2

MALAYSIAN CIVIL ACTION – ARTICLES / PUBLICATIONS

(High Court of Malaya Suit No. BA-23NCvC-61-11/2024)

A. Platforms

The following publications were authored and published by Murray Hunter via: a. murrayhunter.substack.com (“Substack”);

b. eurasiareview.com (“Eurasia”);

c. X (formerly Twitter) including but not limited to @DalastKimbasabi (“X ProUile”) B. April 2024 Publications

i. 7 April 2024

“Why Tan Sri Mohamed Salim Fateh Din must step down as chairman of the MCMC – Holders of public ofPice shouldn’t have any conPlicts of interest”

Platform: Substack

ii. 25 April 2024

“MCMC is out of control – MCMC raiding homes of citizens”

Platform: Substack

iii. 29 April 2024

“Chegubard’s arrest and charging is a warning to all Malaysians”

Platform: Substack

iv. 30 April 2024

“Press Statement: MCMC’s police report against writer Murray Hunter is high handed and has a chilling effect on freedom of speech”

Platform: Substack

C. August 2024 Publication

i. 7 August 2024

“IMAP Report: Continued blocking of Murray Hunter Substack by MCMC”

Platform: Substack

D. September 2024 Publication

i. 8 September 2024

“Adventures in Noddyland: Teresa Kok police investigation – Blatant disrespect by Anwar towards his coalition partner the DAP”

Platform: Substack

E. October 2024 Publications

i. 2 October 2024

“First anniversary of continuous blocking by the MCMC – It’s all an attempt to cover up dirty business dealings”

Platform: Substack

ii. 4 October 2024

“Anwar’s reforms: setting Malaysia back on the right path”

Platform: Substack

iii. 5 October 2024

“The Death of Journalism in Malaysia – Shrinking and Fragmented Industry Challenged by New Regime of Censorship”

Platform: Substack

iv. 7 October 2024

“Most of the mainstream media no longer carry any balanced view of Malaysian current affairs – MCMC blacklist in operation”

Platform: Substack

v. 17 October 2024

“More evidence the MCMC is protecting Crony business interest – The current management of the MCMC don’t want corporate crony corruption exposed to the public”

Platform: Substack

vi. 7 November 2024

“Malaysia needs an Elon Musk”

Platform: Substack

vii. 11 November 2024

“HOW THE MCMC HAS BECOME THE Most Powerful Government Agency In Malaysia – Analysis”

Platform: Eurasia

SCHEDULE 3

THAILAND CRIMINAL ACTION – ARTICLES / PUBLICATIONS

(Royal Thai Police, Yan Nawa Police Station, Daily Report dated 21 June 2024) A. Platforms

All postings were published by Murray Hunter on murrayhunter.substack.com. B. April 2024 Publications

i. 13 April 2024

“The 3Rs Are an Instrument of Tyranny for Malaysia”

Platform: Substack

ii. 19 April 2024

“MCMC Ordered by The High Court to Produce Police Instructions to Block Weechookeong.Com”

Platform: Substack

iii. 25 April 2024

“MCMC Is Out of Control”

Platform: Substack

iv. 29 April 2024

“Chegubard’s Arrest and Charging Is a Warning to All Malaysians”

Platform: Substack

Petronas-Petros start legal battle

Petronas-Petros: Why the Apex Court Must Blow the Whistle

By Rocky Bru

It was a Monday that felt like a Friday for the folks at Twin Towers. On January 12, 2026, Petronas did what many are calling a "Hail Mary" move—filing a motion at the Federal Court to seek a definitive ruling on its future in Sarawak.

Some say it’s an act of desperation. I call it a reality check.

For over a year, we’ve been fed a steady diet of "near resolutions" and "policy-level agreements" from the high offices of Putrajaya and Kuching. PM Anwar Ibrahim and Premier Abang Johari Openg have signed declarations, smiled for the cameras, and told us federal and state laws would "co-exist."

But as any veteran of the Business Times will tell you: ambiguity is the enemy of investment. While the politicians talk about "harmony," the accountants and lawyers are staring at a mess that’s threatening to gut the national oil giant.

The RM7.95 Million "Proxy War"

The real friction isn’t just in the press releases; it’s in the courtrooms. Down in the Kuching High Court, there’s a nasty little dispute over a RM7.95 million bank guarantee.

Petros refused to pay for gas supplied back in August 2024, arguing that Petronas didn't have a Sarawak-issued license to sell it. Petronas, standing on the Petroleum Development Act (PDA) 1974, says it doesn't need one.

This isn’t just about a few million ringgit—it’s a proxy war for the entire industry. If the Kuching court rules against Petronas on January 30, it sets a precedent that every state can effectively "tax" or block the national oil company at the border. Petronas had to act now to stay that judgment and move the goalposts to the Federal Court.

Why This Motion is a Must-Win for Petronas

Critics might call the move "hostile," but here is why Petronas—and by extension, the Malaysian taxpayer—needs this apex court ruling:

Contractual Sanctity: Petronas has poured over RM90 billion into Sarawak in the last decade. It has global clients in Japan and China who don't care about MA63—they care about their LNG shipments. If Petronas loses its aggregator role, it loses the ability to fulfill those international contracts, risking a "sovereign default" on its reputation.

The 30% Revenue Cliff: Analysts aren’t joking when they say losing the gas aggregator role could slash Petronas’ revenue by 30%. With the federal government already budgeting for a lower dividend of RM20 billion this year, a further drop would mean goodbye to fuel subsidies and hello to a very tight national belt.

A Universal Solution: If Sarawak wins, what stops Sabah or Terengganu from doing the same? We’d end up with a "Balkanized" energy sector where every state has its own rules. The Federal Court needs to decide: does the PDA 1974 still mean "absolute ownership and control," or is it a relic of the past?

The MA63 Elephant in the Room

Yes, the people of Sarawak have every right to feel shortchanged. Seeing the gleaming Twin Towers in KL while the interiors of Miri and Bintulu lack basic roads is a bitter pill to swallow. Sarawak has already collected RM20 billion in state sales tax lately, proving they’ve got the leverage.

But we can’t fix a historical grievance by breaking the engine that funds the whole country. Petronas isn’t just a "Mat Salleh" era relic; it’s the national flag bearer that works for us all—from Perlis to Pulau Tikus to Papar.

Final Word

The Federal Court isn't just deciding on a "bank guarantee" or a "gas aggregator." It’s deciding the constitutional soul of the federation.

Petronas' move isn't about bad faith; it’s about survival. In a world of "near resolutions" that never happen, sometimes you need the learned bench of the apex court to finally call the game. Because the longer this uncertainty lingers, the worse it is for everyone—including Sarawak.

PS This is an AI-generated article

Ends

Grow a tooth, Yong tells Malaysian Media Council

 “This is not a criticism. It’s a call for action.” - Yong Soo Heong, president of Malaysian Press Institute, lamenting the inaction of the Malaysian Media Council, which was set up this year after a 40-year struggle

31/10/25: In his latest newspaper column, Datuk Yong, 70, urged his fellow journalists who helm the Malaysian Media Council to start speaking up and be relevant. Journalists in this country, such as Yong himself, spent decades to convince the government to form the Council. It would a shame if those who helm it now are content to keep quiet when there are so many issues affecting the media and its practitioners that needed to be championed.