A 12-year-old boy was charged in a Malaysian court on Aug 7 for underage driving, after a video of him driving a car around his neighbourhood with his two younger siblings in the vehicle sparked public outcry and a police investigation.

       His father, a Pakistani national with Malaysian permanent resident status, was also charged, reported Malaysian media.

       The boy, who was not named, was accused of driving a car in a residential area in the suburb of Puchong in Selangor on July 28.

       He pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him at the Sepang magistrate’s court in the state of Selangor during a closed-door proceeding.

       If found guilty, he could be fined up to RM2,000 (S$590), or face a maximum of six months’ jail, or both.

       Meanwhile, his father, was charged with child neglect and for allowing an underage child to drive a vehicle.

       For the charge of neglect, Muhammad Saleem Fazal Khuda, 53, faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment or a maximum fine of RM50,000 or both, if convicted.

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       For the other charge, he could be fined up to RM2,000 or face a maximum of six months’ jail or both.

       Lawyer Nabilla Rosli, who represented both father and son, pleaded the court for a lower bail sum for the duo.

       This is because Muhammad Saleem works as a carpet seller and earns an average of RM3,000 a month, said Ms Nabilla.

       On top of that, he has to support his wife, who is a housewife, and five schoolgoing children aged between six and 19, she added.

       The court allowed bail of RM500 for the boy and RM2,000 for the father.

       It also set Sept 4 for the cases to be heard.

       In the 90-second video that went viral, the boy could be seen driving a Perodua Viva car with two younger siblings, aged six and four, in the vehicle.

       It then shows a woman, who is off-camera, flagging the car to stop.

       The underage driver then winds down the car’s front passenger window, and the woman asks for the ages of the boy and his siblings.

       She also reprimands the underage driver, to which the boy responds by asking her to “go meet my father”.

       In reply, the woman says she will lodge a police report.

       The children are not seen wearing seat belts in the video.

       Police said the children were “joyriding” in their neighbourhood.