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SEREMBAN - Jitra assemblyman Dr. Haim Hilman Abdullah pleaded not guilty in the Seremban Magistrate's Court today to a charge of making statements likely to cause public alarm, allegedly committed on June 13.
The Kedah state executive councillor for Industry and Investment, Higher Education, Science, Technology and Innovation entered the plea before Magistrate Nurul Saqinah Rosli.
According to the charge, Haim, 53, is accused of making statements with the intent to cause public alarm or disturb public order between 8pm and midnight on June 13 at the Pas Seremban headquarters along Jalan Jelebu here.
He was charged under Section 505(b) of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum penalty of two years' imprisonment, a fine, or both upon conviction.
State prosecution director Ku Hayati Ku Haron applied for bail at RM10,000 with the additional condition that the accused surrender his passport to the court.
However, Haim's lawyer, Mohd Fauzi Che Abu, sought a reduction of bail to RM5,000 and informed the court that his client, a senior state official, frequently uses his passport for official government duties.
The court granted bail at RM5,000 with one surety and set July 30 as the next mention date.
On June 15, the Higher Education Ministry took a serious view of the unfounded allegations made by Haim regarding the public university admission system. - BERNAMA
