KUALA LUMPUR: Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) Youth chief Muhammad Hilman Idham has pleaded not guilty at the Magistrate’s Court here on Wednesday (Aug 20) to a charge of causing public alarm last month.
The Gombak Setia assemblyman entered his plea after the charge was read out before Magistrate Amira Abd Aziz.
“I will fight and ask for a trial,” Muhammad Hilman, 36, told Sinar Harian.
According to the charge, he is accused of making a statement on the TikTok account ‘alfah.channel.tv’ that could have caused public alarm and may have encouraged others to commit offences against public order, at 2.09pm on July 30.
The statement was seen and heard by police officers at the Commercial Crime Investigation Department, Menara KPJ in Kuala Lumpur.
The politician was charged under Section 505(b) of the Penal Code, which carries a jail term of up to two years or a fine or both upon conviction.
During proceedings, Kuala Lumpur Prosecution Director Datuk Badiuszaman Ahmad proposed bail at RM10,000 with one surety.
However, lawyer Muhammad Rafique Rashid Ali, representing Muhammad Hilman, appealed for a reduction, arguing that his client had cooperated fully with police throughout the investigation.
“The accused is a state assemblyman known to the people of Selangor and Malaysia, so there is no reason for him to abscond.
“I propose that bail should be fixed at RM3,000 with one surety and without other conditions as he needs to fulfil his responsibilities as a people’s representative,” he said, appearing with lawyers Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan, Zolazrai Zolkapli, Alias Rasman and Afiqa Nardin.
After hearing submissions from both sides, Magistrate Amira set bail at RM4,000 with one surety.
The court fixed the case for further mention on Oct 9.
