A SINGAPOREAN security guard has been jailed for 14 days and fined RM7,000 after pleading guilty to making remarks deemed insulting to Islam at the Johor Bahru Magistrates’ Court on Friday.
Mohamed Anim Atam, 56, will serve an additional three months in prison if he fails to pay the fine, while the 14-day jail term was backdated to the date of his arrest on Aug 18.
The case was heard before Magistrate A Shaarmini, with Deputy Public Prosecutor Eizlan Azhar appearing for the prosecution.
According to the charge, Mohamed Anim was accused of intentionally uttering words capable of hurting the religious feelings of any person by referring to the Quran.
The offence was allegedly committed while he was travelling from Jalan Tun Razak to Jalan Meldrum in Johor Bahru at about 5pm on July 30.
He was charged under Section 298 of the Penal Code, which provides for a maximum one-year jail term, a fine, or both upon conviction.
The unrepresented accused appealed for a fine, citing his high blood pressure and the need to attend court as he was in the process of a divorce.
The prosecution, however, sought an appropriate sentence, taking into account that the offence touched on the 3R issues of religion, race and royalty, as well as the fact that a recording of the incident had gone viral on social media.
Based on the facts of the case, Mohamed Anim allegedly made the remarks while travelling in an e-hailing vehicle before the driver, Muhamad Danial Haikal Nadzahakim, 29, uploaded a recording of their conversation on social media.
The complainant subsequently lodged a police report on July 31.
Mohamed Anim was arrested at about 4.15pm on Tuesday in the vicinity of the Sultan Iskandar Building along Jalan Lingkaran Dalam, Bukit Cagar. - August 21, 2026