Causing Public Alarm: Zamri Vinoth, Arun Dorasamy Plead Not Guilty, Mahendra Fined RM4,000 

KUALA LUMPUR, March 17 (Bernama) -- Independent preacher Zamri Vinoth and activist Arun Dorasamy are among three individuals charged in courts across several states for allegedly making statements that caused public alarm.

Zamri Vinoth, 42, whose real name is Muhammad Zamri Vinoth Kalimuthu, was charged at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court. Arun, 56, was charged at the Jawi Magistrate’s Court, while e-hailing driver P. Mahendra Bhoopaty, 53, faced charges at the Seremban Magistrate’s Court.

Zamri Vinoth and Arun both pleaded not guilty, while Mahendra Bhoopaty pleaded guilty and was fined RM4,000, in default seven months’ imprisonment.

Before Magistrate Faezahnoor Hassan, Zamri was charged with making a statement on his Facebook account on Feb 3 at 12.22 pm that was likely to cause public alarm and incite offences against public order.

The statement was allegedly seen and heard by a 45-year-old man at Restoran Nasi Kandar Kudu along Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman.

Arun, meanwhile, was charged before Magistrate Nurul Aina Ahmad for allegedly posting a statement on his Instagram account that could incite public disorder. The offence was allegedly committed at a shopping centre in Batu Kawan, South Seberang Perai, at 3.45 pm on March 12, 2025.

The statement reportedly called on a Hindu organisation, Pertubuhan Hindu Agamam Ani Malaysia,  to stage a street protest if no action was taken against Zamri Vinoth over a controversial video involving three local radio presenters accused of mocking a religious festival.

In a separate proceeding before Magistrate Nurul Saqinah Rosli, Mahendra Bhoopaty was charged with uploading a Facebook video containing statements likely to cause public alarm.

In the video, he questioned religious sensitivities by comparing a temple and a mosque, asking, “kalau kuil India di bawah jambatan haram, yang ini masjid bawah jambatan flyover macam mana? haram ke halal, cuba terangkan” (If the Indian temple under the bridge is haram, how about this mosque under the flyover? Haram or halal, try to explain).

The offence was committed at Masjid Jamek Dato' Bandar Hj Ahmad Rasah, Kampung Dato Mansor, at about 12.30 pm last Feb 27.

All three were charged under Section 505(b) of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum penalty of up to two years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both upon conviction.

Meanwhile, in ALOR SETAR, proceedings against activist Tamim Dahri Abdul Razak at the Langkawi Magistrate’s Court have been postponed to May 17 after the accused failed to appear in court.

Kedah Director of Prosecutions Khairul Anuar Abdul Halim, appearing for the prosecution, said more time was needed to secure the presence of the accused, who is currently believed to be out of the country.

“He did not appear today to be charged under Section 295 of the Penal Code, so we are requesting a new date for the mention of the case on May 17,” he said when contacted by Bernama.

During proceedings before Magistrate Hemy Annerina Haja Mydin, he told the court that preliminary checks indicated Tamim Dahri had been traced to Riyadh, having travelled via Bangkok International Airport in Thailand. However, no official documentation was available to confirm the information.

Yesterday, Inspector-General of Police Mohd Khalid Ismail said investigations into Tamim Dahri were linked to the alleged act of damaging a soolam, a sacred symbol in Hinduism, at the former site of the Sri Maha Muniswarar Temple.

He said the accused is expected to be charged under Section 295 of the Penal Code, which pertains to damaging or desecrating objects held sacred by any religious group with the intent to insult religion.

— BERNAMA