PETALING JAYA: A corn seller who sparked controversy by displaying a sign insulting the Indian community was fined RM400 by the Magistrate's Court here on Friday.
The 64-year-old man was sentenced after pleading guilty to a charge related to the incident.
He was charged under Section 505(b) of the Penal Code, with an alternative charge under Section 268 of the same code.
In a media statement, Sepang OCPD Supt G K Shan Gopal, said the case went viral after authorities received a video showing a corn vendor in Kota Warisan displaying a notice insulting the Indian community on Feb 16.
He said investigations were conducted under Section 505(b) of the Penal Code, Section 4 of the Sedition Act, and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
“Following the report, a man selling corn and his 52-year-old wife, an Indonesian national, were arrested on Monday (Feb 17) along Jalan Labohan Dagang-Nilai.
“His wife was charged under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 for not possessing valid travel documents and was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment,” he said reported by Sinar Harian.
Meanwhile, Supt Shan Gopal advised the public to maintain racial harmony and avoid any form of provocation that could offend religious and racial sensitivities.
He added that such statements could spark racial tensions in the country’s multiracial society.
