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A 24-year-old public university student has been fined RM10000 after pleading guilty to uploading an obscene video on his X (formerly Twitter) account. So, what should you know about it?
A heavy punishment for a serious offence
For your information, the case was heard at the Sessions Court in Kuala Lumpur, where Judge Suhaila Haron also ruled that he would face four months in jail if he failed to pay the fine.
Moreover, the offence happened in March 2024, when the student posted the video using his account @sanomanji89. Investigations by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) confirmed that the video was uploaded using his mobile phone, which was later seized for forensic analysis.
Additionally, he was charged under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, which carries a penalty of up to RM50000 fine, one year in prison, or both, along with an additional RM1000 fine for each day the offence continues.
MCMC’s prosecution team highlighted the growing impact of obscene content on social media, especially among young users, stressing that such behaviour could negatively affect Malaysia’s social and moral fabric if not addressed.
“Young people are the most affected group due to their high exposure to social media. If left unchecked, this will lead to a generation with weak morals, low moral resilience and a lack of focus, ultimately undermining the nation's human capital development. The Court may also take judicial notice of the significant increase in such cases on social media. Failure to take stern action will normalise this kind of pervasive behaviour,” Fadhli submitted.
Meanwhile, the student’s lawyer requested a lighter sentence, pointing out his clean record, remorse, and cooperation during investigations.
“His guilty plea has saved the court’s time and resources. The Court should also consider his full cooperation during the investigation and his family circumstances; his mother works as a clerk and his father is a restaurant worker, together supporting six children,” said Nurshah, who handled the case with co-counsel Muhammad Iman Azhar.
Why this matters
This case is another reminder that posting obscene or harmful content online is punishable by law in Malaysia. As social media continues to grow, users are urged to think twice before sharing content that may breach the Communications and Multimedia Act.
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