MARIYAH Yaakob, the owner of a bulk sewing company, Mariyah Holdings Sdn Bhd, today pleaded not guilty at the Ayer Keroh Sessions Court to a charge of making racist remarks against the Malay community.

The Cambodian woman, 47, made the plea after the charge against her was read before judge Mohd Sabri Ismail.

According to the charge, the businessman made a statement via a video recording uploaded on her TikTok app, which was viewed in Bukit Piatu, Kampung Musai in Melaka Tengah at around 6pm on November 16.

The offence, under section 505 of the penal code, provides a maximum jail term of two years, a fine or both.

In separate proceedings, the accused’s son Ezuan Hafsham Mohd Hisyam, 22, who is also the company’s director, claimed trial to a charge of knowingly using his mother’s TikTok account to create and initiate the transmission of a video that featured a woman saying something offensive.

He was charged with committing the offence with the intent to hurt the feelings of others, and the video was viewed on the same date, time, and location. The offence, under section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, carries a maximum RM50,000 fine, maximum one year’s jail, or both. 

He can be also fined another RM1,000 for every day that the offence is continued after conviction.

Malacca public prosecutor Ahmad Sazali Omar prosecuted while lawyer Kamarul Hisham Jaafar represented both accused.

Judge Sabri granted bail at RM15,000 and RM10,000 for Mariyah and Ezuan, respectively.

He also ordered the mother and son to surrender their passports to the court and refrain from making any statements to any parties for fear of disrupting the proceedings.

The court then fixed January 12 for mention and handing over of documents. – Bernama, December 7, 2023.