Twitter user charged for posting offensive remarks against Agong

A Twitter user today claimed trial to two counts of insulting the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Effi Nazrel Saharudin, known by his tweet handle @10befiend, was charged in the Sessions Court under Section 233 (1) (a) Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 for posting offensive comments against His Majesty on the social micro-blogging site on June 1, 2013.

Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) investigated the case and found that Effi Nazrel had committed the act in question with awareness, while his comments have attracted negative reactions from the public.

The comments were "@IzranSalleh @norfaiz they have a point. Agong is just a puppet. Down with monarchy. A waste of rakyats money" and "Soalan serius. Rakyat bayar elaun dan istana agong. Technically speaking he works for us. So why do we put him on a tandu?"

Effi Nazrel pleaded not guilty and was released with a RM4,000 bail for both charges.

If convicted, he faces a maximum fine of RM50,000 and a year's jail, or both.

The case will continue on July 2.