A SOCIAL media influencer has been ordered to pay a RM40,000 fine after pleading guilty to posting a video deemed cruel and exploitative, showing three teenage boys giving leftover rice and chicken bones to a homeless man sleeping on a pavement.
Tang Sie Luk, 23, entered his plea in the Sessions Court here before Judge Sazlina Safie, who ruled that he would face four months’ imprisonment if the fine was not settled. Tang subsequently paid the sum in full.
He was charged with knowingly using Instagram to produce and transmit offensive communication with the intention of causing harm, under Section 233 (1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, which carries a penalty of up to RM500,000, two years’ imprisonment, or both, along with an additional daily fine of RM5,000 for continued offences.
The incident occurred at the Semambu State Assembly Constituency Community Service Centre on Lorong Sekilau 58, Jalan Haji Ahmad, around noon on 4 August 2025.
Tang, who appeared without legal representation, had asked for a reduced fine, expressing remorse for his actions and stating that he had already issued an apology.
Deputy Public Prosecutor from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), Fadhli Ab Wahab, urged the court to impose a stern sentence to serve as a warning to both Tang and the wider public.
“The victim himself stated that he felt humiliated and angry as a result of the accused’s actions. Providing leftover food, including chicken bones, to the victim was not intended as an act of charity, but rather for the purpose of recording a social media video,” Fadhli said.
“This clearly demonstrates the exploitation of human suffering for entertainment, attention, and public viewing.”
Court records show that Tang not only appeared in the video but also directly gave the chicken bones to the homeless man in Jalan Wong Ah Fook, Johor Bahru, before uploading the content using his personal communication device.
The video, which circulated widely on social media, lasted over a minute and depicted three teenage boys handing leftover rice and chicken bones to a homeless individual asleep on the pavement, highlighting the deliberate exploitation of his vulnerability for online engagement. - January 29, 2026
