In life, there are several activities one may not recommend for the well-being of those involved. Wedging a piece of toast out of a toaster with a fork? Bad idea. You may electrocute yourself. Fixing a television aerial during a storm? Nope. You will fall. Giving an honest opinion on that new haircut your mom just got? Not worth it.
Along those lines, one might add intentionally expressing derogatory and hurtful opinions of others using social media. In this case, by “others,” we mean Prime Minister Najib Razak.
A roti canai seller, a recruiter, and a teenage storekeeper all walk into a courtroom, and all three got charged with posting offensive content about the PM.
Nineteen-year-old Ng Thai Quen faces charges of superimposing the head of the premier onto a dog’s body, with the Umno logo on its chest, while being ridden by the prime minister’s wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor. Imaginative, although physically impossible on many fronts.
Nor Sabariah Abdul Kadir, 29, posted comments suggesting Najib Razaj was a thief and embezzler. Less visually imaginative, but succinct.
And finally, roti canai seller Mazlan Yusoff faces the music, so to speak, after posting a picture of Najib’s head imposed onto the body of Communist China’s founding father, Mao Zedong. Not sure what the message behind that is, considering the two come from rather diametrically opposed schools of political beliefs.
All three individuals face up to a year of jail time, and fines of RM5,000 each (US$1,165). All three have pled not guilty, and have since been released on bail.
The case returns to courts October 27. Get your popcorn ready!
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