UMNO Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh has mounted a legal challenge against the Attorney General’s decision to prosecute him, filing a judicial review application in the High Court in Penang over allegations linked to a Facebook post said to have caused public fear.
According to court documents cited by his lawyers, Messrs Aizat Izuan Shakeel, the application was filed on February 27 and is scheduled for hearing on June 16, as reported by Harian Metro.
The legal team said the case extends beyond the personal circumstances of the Merlimau assemblyman and raises wider constitutional and institutional questions relating to the administration of justice in Malaysia.
“This application is not merely about one individual, but about the principle that justice must not only be done, but must be seen to be done fairly for all Malaysians without exception,” the lawyers were quoted as saying.
The lawyers further contended that the prosecution raises issues of alleged selective enforcement and inconsistency in how similar cases have been treated under the law.
They also questioned whether the charge brought against their client is consistent with Article 8 of the Federal Constitution, which guarantees equality before the law.
At the same time, the legal team acknowledged that while freedom of speech is protected under the Federal Constitution, it remains subject to legal restrictions and limitations.
“Such perceptions, if left unaddressed, could erode public confidence in the principles of justice that underpin the nation’s legal system,” they said, referring to concerns over inconsistent enforcement.
Dr Akmal’s lawyers added that he would continue to respect the judicial process and leave it to the court to determine the merits of the application and the issues raised.
The case stems from charges brought against Dr Akmal at the Magistrates’ Court in Bukit Mertajam on August 22 last year over a Facebook post-dated August 11, which allegedly caused public alarm.
He pleaded not guilty under Section 505(b) of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum penalty of two years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both upon conviction.
The upcoming High Court hearing on June 16 is expected to determine whether the judicial review application will proceed, in a case that has drawn attention for its implications on prosecutorial discretion and constitutional rights in Malaysia. - June 12, 2026
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