Umno Youth chief Akmal to face court charge over Facebook post allegedly disturbing public order
KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 20): The Attorney General's Chambers (AGC) said yesterday that it would charge Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Akmal Saleh over a Facebook post on his account, along with two other individuals.
In a statement, the AGC said the decision followed an examination of investigation papers submitted by the police.
'Based on the testimony and evidence obtained, this department has decided to bring charges under Section 505(b) of the Penal Code against Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh, Muhammad Hilman Idham and Siti Hajar Aflah Sharuddin,' it said.
'The statements made by these individuals were found to have disturbed public order or constituted improper use of network facilities or network services.'
The AGC said all charges will be filed at the Magistrates' Court with the relevant local jurisdiction soon.
It added that the statements in question were found to have disturbed public order or constituted improper use of network facilities or services.
Section 505(b) handles those causing fear or alarm to the public, and to induce them to commit an offence against public order.
If convicted, a person can be punished with a prison term up to two years, a fine, or both.
Hilman is the Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia Youth chief, with his charge is believed to be over a video of him speaking at a July 29 protest in which he allegedly claimed the arrest of some Bersatu members was politically motivated.
It is unsure which Facebook post is responsible for Dr Akmal's charge.
Meanwhile, Chandrasegaran Subramaniam will be charged under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1988.
Last week, Dr Akmal said he was called by the federal police to give his statement over the protest he led on the display of Jalur Gemilang in Kepala Batas, Penang.
The AGC had previously warned Malaysians against vigilantism in cases involving the improper display of the Jalur Gemilang, amid furore over the Umno Youth protest.
Dr Akmal has since posted on Facebook that he is abroad performing umrah, or the Muslim minor pilgrimage to Mecca, and will return early to face the charge at the Magistrates' Court in Bukit Mertajam on Friday. lead Muhamad Akmal Salleh
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
3 minutes ago
- The Star
Wireman and wife claim trial to hurting teens
SEREMBAN: A 44-year-old wireman has claimed trial to three charges of intentionally causing physical harm to his three stepsons with a weapon. The accused pleaded not guilty after the charges were read to him separately before Sessions judges Surita Budin and N. Kanageswari on Thursday (Aug 21). The accused was charged with using a PVC pipe to injure the victims, aged 15, 16 and 19. He allegedly committed the offences at around 5.30am on Friday (Aug 15) at their house in Taman Bukit Mutiara near here. The accused was charged under Section 324 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means, read together with Section 326A. The offence carries a jail term of up to 10 years, or a fine, or caning, upon conviction. Section 326A provides for a prison term twice as long as the maximum term under Section 324. Deputy public prosecutor Norazihah Asmuni then told judge Surita that her team was not offering bail to the accused as he may disturb the victims who lived in the same house. She said the teenagers had suffered soft tissue injuries as a result of the alleged beatings. She said if the court were to allow bail, the prosecution requested RM50,000 for each charge. The accused, in pleading for lower bail, said he had no choice but to discipline the alleged victims, as the older boys had a habit of vaping despite being told not to do so. He also said he had been providing for the teenagers for the past three years. Judge Surita then set bail at RM18,000 for two of the charges with one surety each and fixed Sept 24 for mention. She also ordered the accused not to live in the same house with the alleged victims, to report to the nearest police station once a month pending disposal of the case, and to surrender his passport to the court. Judge Kanageswari also allowed the accused bail of RM15,000 with one surety for the third charge and ordered him to stay away from the alleged victims and witnesses. DPP Siti Khairiah Abdul Razak had proposed bail of RM20,000 after informing the court that the full medical report of the alleged assault was not ready. The accused, who was unrepresented, also pleaded for lower bail. He said he did not have any income at present and had special needs, being unable to bend his left leg following an accident. Kanageswari fixed Sept 29 for remention. The 39-year-old mother of the alleged victims was also brought before judge Kanageswari for allegedly causing hurt to her 16-year-old son with a knife at the same place and time. She claimed trial to the charge, also under Section 324 of the Penal Code. The court set bail of RM15,000 with one surety and ordered her to adhere to the same conditions imposed on the first accused.
Rakyat Post
28 minutes ago
- Rakyat Post
Upside Down Jalur Gemilang Spotted At Pontian Dental Clinic, MP Calls For Calm
Subscribe to our FREE A private dental clinic in Pontian, Johor, joined the upside down flag bandwagon recently and drew heavy criticism from the public. Pontian member of parliament Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan has urged everyone to stay calm while the matter is being investigated. 'I urge everyone to remain calm. This matter is being addressed, and the authorities are already taking the necessary action,' he said in a Facebook Ahmad said the business owner and a female staff member have given their statements to the police, after several reports were lodged. He also explained that the flag was hung upside down by mistake. The Deputy Minister of Works said he has spoken to the president and secretary of the Pontian Municipal Council and the district officer in charge, and that he will be meeting with the district deputy chief to discuss the matter. In his statement, Ahmad reminded everyone that it was not a racial issue, but rather a matter of sensitivity, thoroughness, and patriotic spirit. 'Everyone must be careful when sensitive issues are involved. The duty of the authorities on the other hand, is to ensure that laws are followed,' he said, Image: Facebook Fourth flag mishap this month On 1 August, a public school in Port Dickson went viral after someone recorded a video of the school's staff raising the Jalur Gemilang upside down. The school later apologised for the incident and revealed that the staff member who was in charge of raising the flag at the end of the day was a person with disabilities (OKU). READ MORE: A Penang hardware store owner was arrested on 10 August for hoisting the Malaysian flag on a pole in an upside down position. The incident was caught on video and the man in the video was allegedly measuring the length of an iron pole without realising the flag had been installed the other way around. READ MORE: More recently, on 18 August, a photo of an upside down Jalur Gemilang at a factory in Melaka went viral. However, CCTV footage revealed that the flag turned upside down due to strong winds that caused the lower part of the flag tied to the pole to come undone. READ MORE: Share your thoughts with us via TRP's . Get more stories like this to your inbox by signing up for our newsletter.
The Star
32 minutes ago
- The Star
MPs to join Gaza rally, voice support for aid mission
KUALA LUMPUR: The rally for Gaza planned on Sunday (Aug 24) will see the participation of Members of Parliament, who are also calling on Malaysians to join in solidarity with Palestinians. Government Backbenchers Club chief Datuk Mohd Shahar Abdullah, who is also Paya Besar MP, said invitations to the 'Perhimpunan Bersamamu Gaza and 1000 Flotilla Nusantara Break the Siege' at Dataran Merdeka had been extended to all MPs. 'So far 30 MPs have confirmed their participation, but more are expressing interest,' he told a press conference at Parliament here on Thursday (Aug 21). Shahar said MPs collectively condemned and denounced the crime of genocide and the brutal killing of 239 journalists and media practitioners in Gaza by the Zionist Israeli regime. He said the systematic targeting of journalists is a deliberate attempt to keep the truth from reaching the international community, and a blatant violation of international humanitarian law. 'We express our full support for the initiative of the 1000 Flotilla 'Break the Siege' and Sumud Nusantara, a humanitarian solidarity movement spearheaded by Malaysia together with regional and international networks, with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as the patron, to end the cruel blockade imposed by Israel on Gaza. 'The MPs of Malaysia further express full commitment to assist the Flotilla mission in its goal of breaking the blockade and ensuring that urgent humanitarian aid can reach the people of Gaza without obstruction. 'We also pledge to extend all possible diplomatic and legal efforts to defend the safety of the Flotilla participants. 'Should Israel resort to aggression against the mission, Malaysia will support the necessary international legal and diplomatic action to hold the Israeli regime accountable,' he said. Shahar urged all MPs, regardless of party lines, to stand united in defence of Palestinian rights, while also calling on the government to press for stronger measures against Israel at the International Criminal Court. 'The voice of the Parliament of Malaysia is the voice of humanity. We stand firm with Palestine,' he added. Malaysian Consultative Council for Islamic Organisations (Mapim) president Mohd Azmi Abdul Hamid, who also leads the Global Coalition for Jerusalem and Palestine, said the 1000 Flotilla 'Break the Siege' and Sumud Nusantara mission would set sail on National Day, Aug 31, from Spain and on Sept 4 from Tunisia. 'Forty-four countries have already confirmed participation. We have written to at least 140 governments and some prominent global figures such as Pope Leo XIV, the Dalai Lama, the pastor of Moscow, (UN Secretary-General) Antonio Guterres, the secretary of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and many presidents and prime ministers. 'We want this mission – a non-violent, civilian mission – to be recognised by governments around the world, and to ensure that we are protected. 'We are going to face a very high-risk mission. The probability of being attacked is there, and we want governments to see that unless and until we act to intervene, Gaza will be annihilated. 'We proudly stand with the parliamentarians of Malaysia. We expect to arrive in Gaza on Sept 20,' he said.
