CASE UPDATE: Atomy Malaysia Sdn Bhd v. Firdaus Wong Wai Hung [2026] 4 CLJ 795
Atomy Malaysia Sdn Bhd, a local subsidiary of South Korean company Atomy Co Ltd, brought a defamation claim against an Islamic preacher who published six Facebook posts alleging that Atomy was linked to Christian missionary activities. The High Court dismissed the claim, finding that, among others, the statements were substantially true, that the preacher was entitled to express his views, and that Atomy had not shown its business was actually harmed. The case is currently pending appeal.
WHAT’S NEXT:
This case offers some useful reminders for businesses and individuals alike: –
- If you are considering a defamation claim, you need to be clear and specific about exactly what was said about you. A general complaint about the impression a publication creates is not enough — courts require precision.
- Where a brand name is shared between a local company and its foreign parent, it is important to establish that the public would reasonably understand the publication to be referring to your company specifically — not the wider group.
- Statements made about an employee or representative of a company are not automatically treated as statements about the company itself.
- Truth is a complete defence. If what was said is proven to be substantially true, a defamation claim will not succeed — no matter how damaging or widely circulated the statement may be.
- Where credible and established authorities have independently reached similar conclusions, it becomes much harder to argue that the person expressing the same view was acting dishonestly or unreasonably.
- A company seeking damages for reputational harm must back up its claim with real evidence — financial records, lost contracts, or testimony from affected customers. If the company’s own performance tells a different story, that will be taken into account by the court.
Note: This case is pending appeal. The above reflects the High Court’s decision at first instance and may be subject to change.
Facing a similar situation?
If you or your business are dealing with a defamation dispute or have concerns about statements made about you online, feel free to contact us for a consultation