Malaysian man jailed for 10 months, fined US$12,700 over Facebook post insulting Islam

The administrator of a Facebook account has been jailed 10 months and fined 50,000 ringgit (US$12,700) by the Sessions Court in Miri, Sarawak, over a post deemed insulting to Islam.The Malaysian Comm­unications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) said John Mule anak Alai, 48, was convicted under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 for improper use of network facilities.“MCMC takes seriously any form of misuse of digital platforms that insults religion, incites hatred, or undermines harmony in Malaysia’s multiracial and multi-religious society,” it said in a statement on Wednesday.The MCMC said the man, who administered the Facebook account Bat Tuo Sai, made a comment containing insults against verses of the Quran and Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in a post about the former prime minister’s death.It reminded the public to use social media responsibly. “Any content that insults, incites hatred or touches on sensitivities involving race, religion and the royal institution can face stern action under the law,” it said.Shiite worshippers place copies of the Quran on their heads during Laylat al-Qadr, the Night of Destiny, at the Imam Ali shrine in Najaf, Iraq, on Tuesday. Photo: APThe MCMC is also working with social media platforms to identify another Facebook user following the circulation of visuals showing an individual behaving disrespectfully towards the Quran, according to Bernama.