Man in Miri jailed, fined for Facebook post insulting Islam, late Pak Lah

MIRI (March 11): The Sessions Court here sentenced the administrator of a Facebook account to 10 months’ jail and fined him RM50,000 for posting offensive comments that insulted the sensitivities of Islam following the passing of Malaysia’s fifth prime minister, the late Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Judge Afidah Abdul Rahman convicted John Mule Alai, 48, on his own guilty plea to a charge under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, for improper use of network facilities or services to transmit communications that are obscene, indecent, false, menacing, or ‘grossly offensive’ in character with the intent to annoy, abuse, threaten, or harass another person.

According to the facts of the case, the accused, as administrator of the Facebook account ‘Bat Tuo Sai’, had posted abusive and insulting remarks against verses of the Holy Quran and the late Abdullah on a Facebook post by Astro Awani reporting the former premier’s demise.

Meanwhile, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) said it views seriously any misuse of digital platforms that could insult religion, incite hatred, or threaten harmony in the country’s multiracial and multi-religious society.

In a statement posted on its Facebook page, the MCMC reminded the public to use social media prudently and responsibly, and to comply with the laws in force.

“Any content that is insulting, incites hatred, or offends the sensitivities of race, religion, or the royal institution may be subject to stern action under the law,” said the commission.