July 03, 2021 A general view of Malaysiakini's headquarters in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, February 19, 2021. REUTERS/Lim Huey Teng/File Photo KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia's highest court on Friday (July 2) ordered news portal Malaysiakini to pay 550,000 ringgit ($178,000) in damages for in a defamation case filed by a now-defunct Australian mining firm. The ruling comes amid concern among activists about freedom of expression in Malaysia and is the latest against Malaysiakini, an independent publication that has often attracted scrutiny from authorities. Malaysiakini was sued in 2012 for publishing several articles and videos about residents' concerns over pollution allegedly linked to Raub Australian Gold Mine Sdn Bhd's gold mining operations in Malaysia. The company had said the articles were defamatory and malicious.