‘Go break your piggy bank’: Lawyer tells critics to get ready for defamation suit, claims ‘Abang Bas’ demonised over child sexual assault charge

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 17 — The lawyer for the TikToker known as “Abang Bas” has told critics of the man charged with child sexual abuse to be ready for any defamation lawsuit.

Datuk Ahmad Zaharil Muhaiyar was quoted by the Malay media saying that there are many among his family who requested for critics online and celebrities who were involved in the backlash to be sued.

“Everything depends on his family members, as there have been numerous criticisms made on social media against ‘Abang Bas.’ Of course, we have identified them... many,” he was reported saying, referring to the critics.

“As a lawyer, I advise you to break open your [piggy banks], count [all your money] in advance, so it will be easier to calculate later. While he was detained, he was harshly criticised without mercy.”

Ahmad Zaharil said it was unfair for Malaysians to criticise the accused just based on his social media posts.

He also said that critics should apologise to the accused if they do not wish to face any lawsuit.

Earlier, the accused, who was charged with three counts of physical and non-physical sexual assault and uploading offensive posts, was released on bail at the Muar Court today.

The release was made after the family of the 24-year-old man completed the total bail payment of RM40,000 after he was charged in two separate Sessions Courts in Muar and Batu Pahat last week.

Part of the bail was crowdfunded from his supporters and fans of his TikTok account.

The man was previously charged in court in Muar with physical sexual assault by kissing the cheek of a Standard Four girl, who is also his niece, for sexual purpose between 5pm and 6pm on a school bus in Simpang Renggam, Kluang district, from April to September 2024.

He was also charged with repeated surveillance of a nine-year-old girl for sexual purposes between 5pm and 6pm on the same school bus at the same address this month.

Meanwhile, at the court in Batu Pahat, the man was charged with using TikTok under the account name “Abang Bas” to knowingly make and send offensive comments on a video of a nine-year-old girl with the caption “today crush doing homework” followed by a “love” sign while observing her.