{
  "id": 16556961,
  "title": "Akmal fails to have charge over Jalur Gemilang post dropped",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/26/akmal-fails-to-have-charge-over-jalur-gemilang-post-dropped",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-26T03:45:10.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2026/10/26/akmal-fails-to-have-charge-over-jalur-gemilang-post-dropped"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In August, Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh faced charges under Section 505(b) of the Penal Code for allegedly posting a Facebook video that caused public fear or alarm. The charge stemmed from a video Akmal shared on August 11, in which he allegedly issued a two-day ultimatum to the Attorney General's Chambers demanding confirmation that legal action would be taken against an elderly Chinese man for displaying the national flag upside down. Dr Akmal's lawyer, Aizat Azam, submitted a representation to the Penang prosecution director seeking to have the charge dropped about ten months ago. Despite this, the charge was recently rejected during a case mention, according to Sinar Harian. Akmal's defense team filed a second representation with the attorney-general's office to present facts, views, and legal opinions regarding the case. The court has set January 4, 2027 as the date for a decision on the second representation to be filed by the defense.",
  "summary": "His lawyer Aizat Azam says the defence will file a second representation to the attorney-general.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Prosecution rejects Akmal's bid to drop criminal charge",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/26/prosecution-rejects-akmals-bid-to-drop-criminal-charge",
        "published": "2026-10-26T03:30:23.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}