NIBONG TEBAL: Activist Arumugam Dorasamy claimed trial to a charge of making a statement likely to cause public alarm.
The 56-year-old pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him by the court interpreter before Magistrate Nurul Aina Ahmad at the Jawi Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
Based on the charge sheet, he is accused of making the statement on his Instagram account, which was seen and heard by one Nor Al Firdaus Nor Al Huda at Ikea Batu Kawan at about 3.45pm on March 12 last year.
The charge, under Section 505 (b) of the Penal Code for making statements conducing to public mischief, allows for punishment of up to two years’ jail, a fine or both.
Nurul Aina set bail at RM5,000 with one surety. She also fixed June 22 for case management and submission of documents.
On Monday, Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Mohd Khalid Ismail had said that Arumugam, better known as Arun Dorasamy, would be charged for issuing statements that allegedly sparked provocative debates related to religious and racial issues.
He said the investigation was related to Arumugam’s statements which allegedly called on the Persatuan Hindu Agama Ani Malaysia to hold a street protest if no action was taken against independent preacher Zamri Vinoth.
Zamri, the Gerakan Anti-Rumah Anutan Haram (Garah) rally coordinator, was also charged in connection with a gathering planned in front of a shopping complex in Kuala Lumpur on Feb 7.
Meanwhile, Ipoh Barat MP M. Kulasegaran has denied being present in court when activist Arun was charged.
Kulasegaran, who is also the Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reforms), said he had briefly met the activist outside the court complex to advise him to trust in the legal process.
“I have known him since I represented Indira Gandhi in her legal challenge concerning her children,” he said yesterday.
His statement followed questions from the Opposition about his presence when Arun was charged for statements allegedly intended to cause public alarm.
Bersatu vice-president Datuk Dr Mohd Radzi Md Jidin asked whether it was appropriate for a Cabinet member to attend court proceedings with a person who was about to be charged.
“The government needs to clarify this immediately,” said Radzi.
