MELAKA: The owner of a bulk sewing company, Mariyah Yaakob (pic), has pleaded not guilty at the Ayer Keroh Sessions Court here to a charge of making racist remarks against the Malay community.
The 47-year-old Cambodian woman, who owns Mariyah Holdings Sdn Bhd, made the plea after the charge against her was read before judge Mohd Sabri Ismail yesterday.
According to the charge, the businesswoman made a statement via a video recording uploaded on her TikTok application, which was viewed in Bukit Piatu, Kampung Musai in Melaka Tengah district at around 6pm on Nov 16.
The offence was framed under Section 505 of the Penal Code, which provides a maximum jail term of two years or a fine or both, upon conviction.
In a separate proceeding, Bernama reported that the accused’s son, Ezuan Hafsham Mohd Hisyam, 22, who is also the company’s director, claimed trial to a charge of knowingly using his mother’s TikTok account to create and initiate the transmission of a video that featured a woman saying something offensive.
He was charged with committing the offence with the intent to hurt the feelings of others.
The video was viewed on the same date, time and location.
The offence was framed under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 and can be punished under Section 233(3) of the same Act.
If convicted, the offender could be fined not more than RM50,000, or imprisoned for up to one year, or both.
The person can also be fined another RM1,000 for every day that the offence is continued after conviction.
The cases were prosecuted by state public prosecutor Ahmad Sazali Omar while lawyer Kamarul Hisham Jaafar represented both accused.
Judge Mohd Sabri allowed bail at RM15,000 and RM10,000 for Mariyah and Ezuan Hafsham respectively.
He also ordered the mother and son to surrender their passports to the court and refrain from making any statements to any parties for fear of disrupting the proceedings.
The court fixed Jan 12 for mention and handing over of documents.
