30 days' jail for insulting queen

The New Straits Times
by LOOI SUE-CHERN

REMORSEFUL: Man also fined RM8,000

BALIK PULAU: THE man who flashed his middle finger at  Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Hajah Haminah has landed himself in jail for 30 days.

Leong Pei Koe, 29, was also fined RM8,000 yesterday after he pleaded guilty to making the obscene hand gesture.

The quantity surveyor from Subang Jaya, Selangor, was a picture of remorse before he was sentenced by magistrate Muhamad Hidayat Wahab yesterday afternoon.

Speaking in English, Leong who had no lawyer, said he was sincerely sorry for what he had done.

He apologised to the Raja Permaisuri Agong, police and also the people of Malaysia.

"I promise that I will not do it again," he said in a choked voice.

Leong faced two charges of committing obscene acts in public.

He was accused of committing the acts at 11.50am on Monday at the Penang International Airport.

The offence, under Section 294 (a) of the Penal Code, carries a maximum of three months jail, or fine or both.

He was first charged with showing the middle finger on his right hand at the Raja Permaisuri Agong when her car passed him near the Penang International Airport departure hall.

He was also charged with showing a different obscene gesture (hitting his clenched left fist on his right palm) at Superintendent Mohamad Fakhrudin Abdul Hamid.

Hidayat sentenced Leong to 30 days' jail and RM6,000 fine for the first offence and RM2,000 for the second offence.

He said a Malaysian citizen should heed the Rukun Negara and pledge loyalty to the king and country.

"This punishment will serve as a lesson to the accused and others as well."

Deputy public prosecutors Suhaimi Ibrahim and Charanjit Singh Mohinder Singh prosecuted.