Dance producer charged over balloon incident

KUALA LUMPUR: A dance producer who allegedly dropped yellow balloons at an event attended by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and his wife, claimed trial in a magistrate’s court here for insulting behaviour.

Bilqis Hijjas, 36, was charged with behaving in an insulting manner for the purpose of stirring anger which would likely cause disturbance to peace.

Bilqis was said to have committed the offence at Level 5 of the Pavilion shopping mall in Jalan Bukit Bintang here at about 3.15pm on Aug 31.

She was charged under Section 14 of the Minor Offences Act 1955 which carries a fine of not more than RM100 upon conviction.

News reports had claimed that a woman had dropped yellow balloons while Najib was on the ground floor of the shopping mall during the launch of the DiverseCity 2015 Kuala Lumpur International Arts Festival.

Facing the music: Bilqis has been charged with behaving in an insulting manner for the purpose of stirring anger.

Bilqis came to court at about 8.30am with her architect father Hijjas Kasturi, her mother Angela, state executive councillor Elizabeth Wong, Bersih 2.0 chief Maria Chin Abdullah, activist Mandeep Singh and Bersih supporters.

All were holding yellow balloons as they gathered at the court lobby.

Finally at about 10am, they went up to magistrate Nur Azura Murah’s court at Level 4 to have the charge read against Bilqis.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Shukor Abu Bakar, who was assisted by Mohd Farizul Hassan Bakri, proposed bail at RM500 in one surety.

Bilqis’ counsel Michelle Yesudas asked the court to reduce the bail to between RM100 and RM150.

Magistrate Nur Azura Murah fixed bail at RM500 in one surety pending mention on Oct 26. Bilqis’ father posted the bail.

Hijjas told reporters later that children these days have minds of their own.

“They have their own mind and courage and that is what it is all about. We should respect it. Maybe that is what the next generation is,” he said.