Akmal, Hilman to face charges for 'threatening public order'

Summary

• Umno and Bersatu youth leaders Dr Akmal Saleh and Hilman Idham will be facing charges under Section 505(b) of the Penal Code for allegedly threatening public order.

• Former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin expresses solidarity with Hilman and urges the government to repeal the Sedition Act.

The Attorney-General’s Chambers has announced plans to file charges against Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh and Bersatu Youth chief Hilman Idham for allegedly threatening public order, along with two other individuals.

It said the charge against Akmal is for a Facebook post that he allegedly made, while Hilman will be charged over a statement allegedly made on TikTok. Both charges will be framed under Section 505(b) of the Penal Code.

“All charges will be filed at a Magistrate’s Court with local jurisdiction in the near future.

“The statements made by these individuals were found to have threatened public order or amounted to an improper use of network facilities or network services,” the AGC said in a statement today.

The AGC said the school teacher who allegedly made the false claim that the deceased student Zara Qairina Mahathir had been placed in a washing machine will also be charged under Section 505(b).

In addition, a TikTok user who was previously alleged to have disparaged the prime minister on the platform will face charges under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.

However, the AGC did not provide details of charges, including whether it is related to the allegation.

‘I will not budge’

According to invitations circulated separately to the press, the TikTok user will be charged at the Shah Alam Sessions Court, while Hilman will be charged at the Kuala Lumpur Magistrate’s Court. Both charges will take place tomorrow morning.

In a statement on Facebook, Akmal said he is currently in Mecca for an umrah pilgrimage, but he will shorten his pilgrimage to return and face charges at the Bukit Mertajam Magistrate’s Court on Friday.

“If this is the price to pay for defending the nation’s sovereignty, I will not budge even an inch.

“We will meet in court on Friday,” he said.

Last week, Akmal led a crowd of over 100 protesters, including members of Umno and Bersatu youth wings, in Kepala Batas, Penang, to “educate” a hardware store owner caught on video hanging a Jalur Gemilang upside down.

The Merlimau assemblyperson stressed that the gathering was held peacefully and aimed to send a clear message that Malaysians will not tolerate disrespect toward the national symbol.

Simultaneously, the advocacy group Lawyers for Liberty staged a counter-protest to protect the hardware store owner Pang Chin Tian from harassment.

‘Cruel and hypocritical’

In a separate statement issued today, former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin strongly condemned the planned charges against Hilman tomorrow.

According to Muhyiddin, the charges are regarding Hilman’s speech at a protest against the Sedition Act 1948 on July 29.

He said Hilman had every right to criticise the Act and oppose the actions of the authorities, who also detained several other Bersatu Youth members under the legislation.

Muhyiddin also described the government’s actions as “cruel” and “hypocritical”.

“Pakatan Harapan initially promised to abolish the Sedition Act. Yet after coming into power, not only has the Act not yet been abolished, but it is still being used to charge individuals who oppose it.

“This is clearly hypocrisy. Not only is freedom of speech no longer protected, but such laws that have previously been labelled as ‘cruel’ are also still being upheld.

“I pray for Hilman and the rest of Bersatu Youth’s leadership to remain steadfast in fighting against the tyranny and hypocrisy of the Madani government,” he said. 

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