{
  "id": 15689930,
  "title": "Trader claims trial over offensive Facebook comment about PM",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/20/trader-claims-trial-over-offensive-facebook-comment-about-pm",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-20T03:04:15.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/10/1559507/trader-claims-trial-over-offensive-facebook-comment-about-pm"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "SEPANG: Muhammad Zubair Ismail, a 44-year-old trader from Alor Setar in Kedah, appeared in the Sessions Court today to deny a charge of posting an offensive Facebook comment directed at Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. The trader faced allegations of creating an offensive message through a Facebook account under the pseudonym \"Tam Jebat\" on January 12. In court, Zubair entered a not guilty plea after the charge was read by Judge Raja Shahril Anuar Raja Baniamin. The offense, as per Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, involved knowingly transmitting an offensive comment through Facebook with the purpose of irritating another individual. Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) prosecutor Fadhli Ab Wahab read out the charge to the court. The alleged incident took place on the first floor of the MCMC Tower.",
  "summary": "SEPANG: A trader pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court here today to a charge of posting an offensive comment about Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Facebook.",
  "key_points": [
    "Trader Muhammad Zubair Ismail denies offensive Facebook comment charge.",
    "Charge filed under Section 233(1)(a) of Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.",
    "Incident allegedly occurred on January 12 at MCMC Tower."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The prosecution of social media commentary under the Communications and Multimedia Act signals a tightening of legal boundaries regarding how citizens express dissent toward high-ranking government officials online.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "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."
}