Security guard jailed, fined for offensive Facebook comment about Agong

PETALING JAYA: The Kuching sessions court today sentenced a security guard to eight months’ imprisonment and a RM50,000 fine after he pleaded guilty to posting an offensive comment about the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Ibrahim, on Facebook.

Judge Iris Awen Jon handed down the sentence on Raden Norhakim Raden Ibrahim, 46, and ordered him to serve an additional two months’ jail if he fails to pay the fine.

Raden Norhakim was accused of posting the offensive comment on Facebook on Feb 12 last year. The comment was detected by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission in Cyberjaya at 8.44pm the same day.

The charge was framed under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 for transmitting an offensive communication with intent to annoy, which provides for a fine of up to RM500,000, up to two years’ imprisonment or both.

Iris said the offending comment encouraged negative perceptions of the royal institution, especially as it was posted in the comment section of a well-known news page and involved the king.

“The public interest was the court’s main consideration in this case. You must apologise to all Malaysians and the Yang di-Pertuan Agong,” she told Raden Norhakim.

The prosecution was led by MCMC prosecuting officer Nazrul Nizam Zameri, while Raden was unrepresented.