Shila Amzah Sues Kosmo! For Defamation: Has Malay Media Gone Out Of Control?

Popular singer NurShahila binti Amir Amzah (known throughout the region as Shila Amzah) earlier in the year filed a suit against a Kosmo! writer and two other individuals connected to the publishing of an article from 17 September 2014. Shila was due to provide her statement in court earlier this week.

The news, which has yet to reach mainstream English-language media, was first reported in Bernama. In the lawsuit, Kosmo! writer Maliah Surip along with its editor and publisher (controversial newspaper Utusan Melayu, known for sensationalised, strongly-worded headlines) are being sued for defamation.

The 17 September 2014 article in question accused Shila Amzah of receiving sponsorship from a lottery company and for disregarding Malay media. The writer also likened her publication to “beggars” in asking for tickets after discovering Kosmo! wasn’t invited to the showcase.

Bernama also reports that Kosmo! used information from Instagram account Shilaamzah_photography to represent the singer without verifying if Shila did own the account. In December last year, Shila began hinting of a retaliation through .

When Kosmo!’s article was published last year, gossip blogs with big audiences such as Rotikaya hopped onto the bandwagon and slammed Shila over Kosmo!’s claims. Most of them adopted a righteous stance despite the nature of their publications.

Local Malay-language gossip blogs have been thriving since web-building became accessible to the mainstream (for example, pages like Siakapkeli and Beautifulnara boasts millions of readers each month despite relatively basic design elements). They mostly carry content ranging from gossip to news and advertorials without much consideration for ethics.

Popular website Rotikaya for example has shown a consistent preference for celebrity relationships and scandals as evident from its selection of headlines, but often crosses into religious territory by advocating the use of hijabs — a trait shared by most Malaysian gossip blogs.

In November alone there were five stories on the site about celebrities advocating or refusing to wear the hijab.

Locally however gossip blogs have been reputed as providing an avenue for publicity and promotion for local artistes despite their morally-dubious nature.

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