Sex bloggers Alvivi fail to get charge of causing hostility thrown out
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| Alvin Tan and Vivian Lee- Alvivi |
Alvin Tan Jye Yee (right) and Vivian Lee May Ling.
KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court denied the application by sex bloggers 'Alvivi' to strike out the charge that they had caused hostility between those of different beliefs.
Judge Kamardin Hashim ruled that there was no merit in the application by Alvin Tan Jye Yee, 25, and Vivian Lee May Ling, 24, to strike out the charge under Section 298A(1) of the Penal Code.
On Oct 31, Tan and Lee's counsel Chong Joo Tian submitted that the word "Bak Kut Teh" means "meat bone tea" and the usage of the terminology did not cause humiliation to Islamic religion.
Wan Shaharuddin argued that Lee and Tan's act of inviting Muslims to savour Bak Kut Teh for breaking fast during Ramadan month was clearly an insult to all Muslims.
DPP Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin said it would surely stir hatred, anger and caused disunity among Muslim community, Malays and Chinese.
He said Section 298A was not exclusive to Muslims and it was established to ensure harmony and unity among multi-racial community in Malaysia.
Tan, 25, and Lee, 24, claimed trial to the three charges when they were brought to the court before Sessions Court Judge Murtazadi Amran on July 18.
They were jointly charged under subsection 5(1) of the Film Censorship Act 2002 (Act 620), Section 4(1)(c) of the Sedition Act and Section 298A(1) of the Penal Code.
They were accused of displaying pornographic images on their blog "alviviswingers.tumblr.com" at Kompleks Mutiara, Jalan Ipoh here between July 6 and 7 from 9pm to 2am.
The second charge read that they had uploaded content that has the possibility to stir hostility based on religion between those with different beliefs at a restaurant in Jalan Dang Wangi here from July 11 and 12 at about 10.48pm.
At the same time, Tan and Lee faced the third charge of publishing a seditious photograph and comment "Selamat Berbuka Puasa (dengan bak kut teh...wangi, enak, menyelerakan)" which contained a halal logo and possibly seditious statements at Kompleks Mutiara.
The duo's postings last July 11 caused such an uproar among Malaysians of all races for their insensitivity that they later removed the posting and uploaded a new picture of them eating ketupat, rendang and curry puffs.
However, the Facebook page was later removed entirely.
The duo also issued an apology in a 1:22 minute video on YouTube in which they apologised for the insensitive posting, claiming it was done in humour
The Star
