{
  "id": 12782715,
  "title": "Sepang Umno chief charged over controversial speech",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/sepang-umno-chief-charged-over-controversial-speech",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-08T04:03:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2026/10/08/sepang-umno-chief-charged-over-controversial-speech"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Sepang Umno chief Noorazli Said appeared in court today to face charges for allegedly offending Christians with his speech at the 2026 Umno general assembly on September 12. The 48-year-old pleaded not guilty to the charge laid under Section 298 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum penalty of one year in jail, a fine, or both upon conviction. The offense is said to have occurred at 11:20am on September 12 at Dewan Merdeka, World Trade Centre, Jalan Tun Ismail. Noorazli was granted bail of RM6,000 with one surety, while the deputy public prosecutor had proposed a bail amount of RM15,000 with one surety. However, Noorazli's lawyer, Hasnal Rezua Merican, requested a reduction in the bail amount to RM4,000 to RM5,000, which was eventually approved by the magistrate. The case is set to be mentioned again on November 18.",
  "summary": "Noorazli Said pleads not guilty to a charge of deliberately wounding religious feelings.",
  "key_points": [
    "Noorazli Said, 48, charged for controversial speech at Umno assembly",
    "Alleged offense under Section 298 of Penal Code, maximum 1-year jail",
    "Bail set at RM5,000 after initial proposal of RM15,000"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Sepang Umno chief charged over controversial speech",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/sepang-umno-chief-charged-over-controversial-speech-12787866",
        "published": "2026-10-08T04:03:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Sepang Umno chief claims trial over remarks on Christian clergy",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/sepang-umno-chief-claims-trial-over-remarks-on-christian-clergy",
        "published": "2026-10-08T04:26:22.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Malaysiakini",
        "title": "Sepang Umno chief charged over Catholic joke",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/sepang-umno-chief-charged-over-catholic-joke",
        "published": "2026-10-08T04:39:52.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Sepang Umno division chief charged with hurting religious feelings",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/sepang-umno-division-chief-charged-with-hurting-religious-feelings",
        "published": "2026-10-08T05:47:17.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}