KUALA LUMPUR – P. Shalini, a woman previously fined RM100 for using abusive language on TikTok, has filed a defamation lawsuit against two individuals who she claims have tarnished her reputation, leading to cyberbullying.
Shalini, 36, said the defamation lawsuit was filed after the two individuals allegedly caused her and her family to face negative public perception.
She added that since last July, she has been confined to her home and has had to seek counseling due to the cyberbullying she has endured.
“Honestly, I sought counseling because of this (cyberbullying). I had to stay locked in my room and stop doing daily activities like going to the gym.
“My mother only leaves the house to go to the temple, while my sister, who lives in Australia, had to return home to support our family.
“I want to stress that the police have investigated, and I have never been charged or convicted of any charges linking me to the death of any individual, including the late (Rajeswary) Esha.
“As a former anti-cyberbullying activist, it’s quite ironic that I myself have become a victim of cyberbullying,” she said at a press conference at a hotel here today.
On 16 July last year, Shalini was fined RM100 for using abusive language on her TikTok account.
According to the charge, she intentionally used abusive language on her TikTok account with the profile ‘alphaquinnsha’ with the intention of causing annoyance to disrupt the peace at a premises in Jalan Ipoh, here, at 4:10 am on 1 July.
She was charged under Section 14 of the Minor Offences Act 1955 and is punishable under the same section with a maximum fine of RM100.
Meanwhile, Rajeswary, or Esha, a TikTok influencer, was found dead on 5 July last year, believed to be a victim of cyberbullying.
Shalini’s lawyer, Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla, said the management of the defamation lawsuit has been set for 14 and 23 January next year.
According to Haniff, his team had previously sent a Letter of Demand (LOD) to the two individuals but did not receive a response.
“The Letter of Demand sent did not receive a response from the two individuals.
“If they had come forward to sincerely apologize (when the LOD was delivered), my client might have considered not pursuing the lawsuit.
“But they didn’t respond at all,” he said.
Haniff said the actions of the two individuals were inappropriate because Shalini was not linked to the cause of death of any party, leading to her being cyberbullied by netizens following the defamatory accusations leveled against her. – January 10, 2025
