Fuziah Salleh pleads not guilty for spreading fake news that could cause public fear

The former deputy minister in the Prime Minister's Department nodded when the charge was read out to her before Magistrate R. Salini Retanam and asked for a trial.

According to the charge sheet, she is alleged to have made a statement through her Facebook account that could cause public fear at Taman Imigresen, Jalan Tasek Utara, at about 10 pm on April 9.

Fuziah was charged today under Section 505 (b) of the Penal Code for causing public treason with intent to cause fear to the public.

It carries a maximum jail term of two years or a fine or both.

Salini later allowed the accused bail of RM3,000 with one surety while the re-mention of the case was fixed on June 16.

Fuziah, 61, was represented by Hassan Karim and John Fernandez while Deputy Public Prosecutor Nor Azizah Mohamad handled the case.

Hassan had earlier protested before the proceedings started because he claimed his client had not been given early notice.

However, Nor Azizah in her argument said the suit had been handed over to Fuziah in Kuantan yesterday saying the accused had to answer charges today.

Fuziah previously posted a video clip on her Facebook claiming that there was an influx of Malaysians returning from Singapore at the Sultan Iskandar Building (BSI), Johor.

A video clip showing Malaysians crushing control of immigration authorities in the Johor Causeway was shown as Singapore began to control movement following the COVID-19 outbreak last April 7.

Fuziah, however, dropped the video a few hours later and apologized for bringing up the old video.