KUCHING: The Magistrate’s Court here today fixed two days from Feb 10, next year, for the trial of seven individuals including a woman, charged with disrespecting the national anthem, ‘Negaraku’.
The seven individuals are Leong Shaow Tung, 43; Kon Tai Keong, 37; Bong Sak Sin, 44; Andrew Chong, 33; Phang Ngin Pen, 64; Tan Kok Chiang and Kui Ping Ping, both aged 46.
According to the charge sheet, these individuals were alleged to have refused to stand to attention while the ‘Negaraku’ was played during a fundraising dinner, held at a hotel on Jalan Ban Hock on Sept 27, at 7.15 pm.
They were charged under Section 8 of the National Anthem Act 1968 which carries a maximum penalty comprising a RM100 fine or imprisonment of one month, if convicted.
All the accused were represented by lawyers Arthur Lee and Ian Lee Yi Eng while DPP Nurfadzlin Hafiz Musa prosecuted.
It was reported in September that a 22-second video clip showing the seven—members of the Sarawak For Sarawakians group—refusing to stand for the Negaraku had gone viral on Facebook.
Spokesman Leong, who shared the clip, said their action was a silent protest to show their dissatisfaction over unfulfilled promises to Sarawak.
He also said Negaraku was Malaya’s anthem and not the anthem of the federation.
“Sarawak only joined Malaysia in 1963, we are only an equal partner.
“They should create a new song for the federation of Malaysia. Why are they still singing Negaraku?” he said at the time.
