Yang Chin Cheong, 59, entered the plea after the charge was read to him in Mandarin before judge N Priscilla Hemamalini, Kosmo reported.

He is accused of committing the offence against the girl, who was 15 years and nine months old at the time, at a secondary school in Alor Setar at about 1pm on Dec 5, 2025.

The charge was framed under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, which provides for up to 20 years’ imprisonment or whipping upon conviction.

Deputy public prosecutor Nurfatin Mastura Asri asked for bail to be set at RM30,000, while lawyer Hanis Nabila Rosli requested the minimum amount, saying Yang was unmarried and had been suspended from work.

She said Yang also had several health issues including heart problems, high blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol-related conditions, and spent about RM600 each month on medication.

The court set bail at RM10,000 with one surety and ordered Yang not to contact the victim or prosecution witnesses until disposal of the case.

Yang posted bail, and the court fixed May 18 for mention.