The Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) court today postponed the hearing involving a young couple charged with indecent behaviour to Sept 27.

Magistrate Mohd Khairi Haron deferred the matter as he was engaged with other cases.

Ooi Kean Tong, 22 and his girlfriend Siow Ai Wei, 21 were accused of hugging and kissing at the Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) park on Aug 2, 2003.

They were issued summonses under Section 8 (1) of the park bylaws (Federal Territory) 1981 for indecent behaviour.

The pair claimed trial, saying that they were merely reading letters and holding hands when approached by DBKL enforcement officers.

Bribe money

They claimed that the officers had asked them for bribe money and slapped them with summonses when they refused to pay.

If found guilty, the couple can be charged with a one-year jail term or a maximum fine of RM2,000 or both.

Non-governmental organisations and politicians have decried the incident, saying it would make Malaysia the laughing stock of the world and would affect its tourism industry.