KOTA KINABALU: An e-hailing driver was fined RM4,000, in default six months' jail, after pleading guilty to posting false content on TikTok in April, about an alleged diesel shipment to the Philippines.
Shahuddin Gowana, 51, pleaded guilty after the charge under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 was read before Sessions Court Judge Monica Linsua, Thursday (July 16).
According to the charge, Shahuddin knowingly used the TikTok account "@izzyderabbit" to initiate the transmission of a communication containing false content with the intention of annoying others.
Based on the facts of the case, the three-minute-and-42-second video claimed that the Malaysian Government was dishonest and that anyone who believed the government's denial about the alleged shipment of diesel drums to the Philippines was foolish.
Shahuddin’s statements in the video also seem to suggest that reports issued by the Philippines were authentic and genuine.
However, investigations later revealed that the contents of the video were false, misleading and unverified while the National Economic Action Council clarified that the said shipment to the Philippines belonged to an international trading company.
The court heard that the offence was committed at about 2pm on Apr 14, 2026, at Universiti Utama Condominium, Telipok, not far from here.
Shahuddin was accused of transmitting the contents with the intention of annoying others, causing the public to believe fake information, potentially creating confusion, misunderstanding, hatred or anger towards the Malaysian government, particularly Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The communication also had the potential to undermine public confidence in the country's economic stability and the government's administration.
In mitigation, Shahuddin, who was unrepresented, asked the court for a lenient sentence, citing his guilty plea, which saved judicial time.
He told the court that he suffered from health problems, was the sole breadwinner supporting a wife, seven children, four of whom are still in school, as well as his elderly mother.
Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission prosecuting officer Nur Nazhzilah Mohammad Hashim, urged the court to impose a deterrent sentence, stating that the accused had abused freedom of speech by disseminating false content, among other things.
