A 49-year-old single mother has claimed trial at the Sessions Court here to two separate charges involving allegedly offensive online communications linked to royal institutions, in a case brought under Malaysia’s communications law.
The accused, Nurul Huda Mohd Bajuri, entered her plea before Sessions Court Judge Mohd Azhar Othman after both charges were formally read out in court proceedings earlier today.
According to the charge sheet, she is accused of uploading and transmitting content deemed offensive via social media platforms, specifically TikTok and Instagram, using the account name “ratunurutriratubalqis”. The posts were allegedly intended to annoy or disturb others and were said to have been made from an apartment along Jalan Tun Abdul Razak at about 4pm on March 27.
The charges fall under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, which is commonly used in Malaysia for online content-related offences. If found guilty under Section 233(2) of the same Act, she could face a fine of up to RM500,000, imprisonment of up to two years, or both, in addition to further daily penalties for continuing offences.
In recent years, authorities have increasingly stressed that online conduct carries serious legal consequences, particularly when content is perceived to involve sensitive institutions. Legal observers note that social media activity is subject to the same scrutiny as traditional forms of publication, reflecting tighter enforcement in the digital space.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohamad Afdhallan Syafiq Azmi proposed bail at RM15,000 for both charges with two sureties. However, defence counsel Nurul Hidayah Mohammad Asri from the National Legal Aid Foundation requested a lower amount, highlighting that the accused earns around RM3,000 a month and is the sole provider for her teenage child.
The court later allowed bail at RM8,000 with one surety, alongside additional conditions including surrendering her passport, monthly police reporting, and a strict order not to interfere with prosecution witnesses. The case has been fixed for mention on May 8 for further proceedings, including the appointment of counsel and document submission.
