Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) member Victor Wong has pleaded not guilty to a charge against him of insulting Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar and the Royal Malaysian Police Force.

Wong was charged in a sessions court in Kuala Lumpur today with making a Twitter posting on Aug 31, after the arrests of Penang Voluntary Unit (PPS) members on that day.

He was charged under Section 504 of the Penal Code, with an alternative charge under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.

Wong posted his bail of RM4,000 and the trial date was fixed for Oct 27.

Wong, 43, is a factory manager and a freelance writer with online news site The Ant Daily.

Some 10 supporters were present in the courtroom today, among them PRM president Rohana Ariffin ( left ).

If convicted under the primary charge, Wong faces up to two years' jail, or a fine, or both.

On the alternative charge, he faces either a maximum fine of RM50,000 or one year’s jail, or both.

Wong's was represented by Arafas Abdul Razak, while the deputy public prosecutor was Mohd Nordin.

The presiding was judge Abdul Rashid Daud.

The charge sheet states that Victor Wong posted on Twitter: “Bastardization of @PDRM. Thanks to the ruthless @KRAB51 Henrich Himmler of Malaysia” and that Wong therefore insulted the IGDP and PDRM, on 31st of August, in a McDonald Restaurant in MidValley, Kuala Lumpur.

@PDRMsia is the official Twitter account for PDRM, whereas KRAB51 owned by IGP himself.

Arafas pointed out that the police were initially investigating Wong under the sedition law, but in the end chose to charge him under the Penal Code.

The bail was set for RM7,000 at first, but Arafas argued that Wong did no harm to society and has been cooperative with the police, and asked for the bail to be set at RM4,000.

When interviewed, Wong said he made the comment because of the arrest of PPS members by the police.

“So many innocent people were arrested. It's not fair. I made the comment based on the injustice (of the PPS case).”

Police arrested more than 150 Penang Voluntary Patrol Unit (PPS) members on Aug 31, the federal Merdeka Day, claiming they are illegal as PPS is not registered under Societies Act.

Soon after making his comment, Wong apologised on Twitter to the IGP and the police force. However, IGP Khalid Abu Bakar said action would be taken against anyone who insults him.