Khairy Seeks Court Order Against MYNIC to Unmask ‘Corruption Watch’ Author

Court Application Targets Focus Malaysia Domain Owner

The pre-action discovery application filed by Khairy requests the identity and corporate details of the registered owner behind the focusmalaysia.my domain name. This follows the March 10 publication of an article titled “10 reasons Why KJ isn’t PM material, Malaysians must carefully examine his past track record,” which appeared under the pseudonym “Corruption Watch.”

Through the court action, Khairy is seeking the registered owner’s identity card or company registration number, along with residential or business addresses, email addresses, and contact numbers. The application also asks for particulars of all administrative and technical contacts linked to the domain.

Additional requests in the filing include original creation and expiration dates, the accredited registrar involved, and historical logs of any ownership transfers. Court papers note that the real person behind the “Corruption Watch” pen name is currently hidden and cannot be uncovered without an order from the court.

Publisher Denies Ownership While Registry Confirms Records

Khairy’s legal team previously served a letter of demand to Focus Malaysia Sdn Bhd on March 13. Nevertheless, the firm rejected claims that it owned or managed the site, explaining that it had disposed of all business operations around 2018.

Responding via an affidavit, MYNIC verified that it maintains the registration records of the domain owner, which encompass contact details and administrative information. The country’s registry indicated it holds no objection to surrendering the data should a court order mandate it.

MYNIC additionally validated that the party listed as the domain owner on March 10 continues to be the official owner on file, with zero ownership shifts logged between March 10 and June 18, the date Khairy submitted his application.

Registry Opposes Broad Disclosure and Seeks Indemnity

While willing to release core registration details under a court directive, MYNIC pushed back against Khairy’s wider demand for messages and communications exchanged between the registry, the registrant, and the accredited registrar. The registry contended that such records are irrelevant to the planned defamation suit.

Pointing out that it acts as a neutral third party instead of the intended defendant, MYNIC has asked for protection against any potential liabilities, legal expenses, or claims stemming from adherence to a disclosure directive, alongside legal costs for the application.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Khairy Jamaluddin file a court application against MYNIC?

Khairy filed a pre-action discovery application to identify the anonymous owner of the focusmalaysia.my domain name following an allegedly defamatory article published under the pseudonym “Corruption Watch.”

What information is Khairy requesting from MYNIC?

According to court filings, Khairy is requesting the registered owner’s identity card or company registration number, address, email, contact number, and administrative contacts linked to the domain.

How has MYNIC responded to the legal action?

MYNIC confirmed in an affidavit that it holds the registrant’s records and has no objection to handing over the information if directed by a court order, though it opposed requests for private correspondence and is seeking an indemnity against liabilities.