Malaysia tackles religious, racial tensions as 2 charged over provocative posts

2026.03.17 05:50 Malaysian activist Arun Dorasamy. Photo: Facebook/arundorasamy Malaysia charged two men on Tuesday and moved to bring back another from Thailand as authorities sought to contain a wave of religiously charged provocations that has sharpened tensions in the multicultural country. Controversial preacher Zamri Vinoth, 41, and activist Arun Dorasamy, 56, both pleaded not guilty in separate magistrates’ courts to charges linked to social media posts that prosecutors said were capable of “causing public alarm”. The cases come as conservative groups push for the removal of Hindu temples said to have been built illegally on private land, reopening a long-running and politically sensitive dispute over places of worship, land ownership and minority rights in Muslim-majority Malaysia. Zamri was charged in Kuala Lumpur under Section 505(b) of the Penal Code over an online post on February 3 related to a gathering involving what was described as an “illegal temple”, according to local media reports. The offence carries a maximum sentence of two years’ jail, a fine or both if convicted. Arun, also known as Arumugam Dorasamy, was charged in Penang’s Jawi under the same provision over a social media post allegedly made with intent to cause public unrest. He was granted bail of 5,000 ringgit (US$1,275) and the court fixed June 22 for document submission. A fourth case has already ended in a conviction. P. Mahendra Boopathy was fined 4,000 ringgit after pleading guilty to making a provocative statement that threatened public order, The Star reported. The 53-year-old e-hailing driver expressed regret over his action during a court hearing. “[I] also like to apologise to the Muslim community for making the statement,” he said, as quoted by the newspaper. The charge stemmed from an online video questioning the land status of a mosque in Seremban and comparing it with that of a Hindu temple built under a bridge. Tamim Dahri Abdul Razak is reportedly hiding in Thailand. Ph

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