KUALA LUMPUR – A public university student was fined RM10,000 by the Sessions Court today for creating and transmitting pornographic video content through his X (formerly Twitter) account.
Muhammad Aidil Akmal Azhar, 24, pleaded guilty after the charge was read before Judge Suhaila Haron. The court also ordered a four-month prison term should he fail to pay the fine.
According to the charge, Muhammad Aidil knowingly created and transmitted pornographic video content with the intent to annoy others, using the X account “@sanomanji89” at a residence in Shah Alam, Selangor, at 10.45pm on March 1, 2024.
The post was later viewed at a condominium in Kuala Lumpur at 11am on April 4, 2024.
The offence, committed under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, is punishable under Section 233(3) of the same Act. The law carries a maximum fine of RM50,000 or up to one year’s imprisonment, or both, and allows an additional fine of RM1,000 for each day the offence continues after conviction.
A digital forensic officer from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) found, through forensic analysis, the username “Manjiro” and the pornographic video content on a mobile phone seized from the accused.
Speaking to Scoop, MCMC Deputy Public Prosecutor Fadhli Ab Wahab urged the court to impose a sentence reflecting the seriousness of the offence, stressing the ripple effects of pornographic material spreading on social media.
“This offence goes beyond merely uploading explicit content — it has a ripple effect on society. Social media is widely used by people of all ages, including children and teenagers, and the ease of access to such material can normalise inappropriate behaviour and gradually erode moral values,” he said.
Fadhli added that such cases, if left unchecked, could undermine public order and social morality.
“Young people are the most vulnerable group as they are highly active online and easily influenced by what they consume. If left unchecked, such actions could contribute to a generation weak in ethics, lacking resilience in the face of moral challenges, and struggling to focus on constructive pursuits,” he said.
He also noted a rising trend in similar offences and called for stronger judicial action.
“The court should take judicial notice of the alarming increase in cases involving the transmission of pornographic content on social media. A lenient sentence may be perceived as a licence to repeat such behaviour, whereas a firm penalty will act as a reminder that online spaces are not beyond the reach of the law,” Fadhli said.
Defence counsel Nurshah Kamarudin, representing the accused, appealed for leniency, arguing that her client had no prior convictions, regretted his actions, and pledged not to repeat the offence.
She added that her client had cooperated fully with authorities and asked the court to show compassion and grant him a second chance to rebuild his life. – September 25, 2025