GENEROUS souls have rallied to settle the RM1,500 fine meted on a security guard in Melaka for supermarket theft in lieu of 10 times the value of RM131.50 being the price of groceries comprising two packs of Nestlé Everyday powdered milk, two bottles of Sunsilk shampoo and a bottle of Top laundry detergent.
How touching can it be that even those who are financially constrained even requested for the contact details of 47-year-old Mohamad Ghazali Maidin who was adjudged guilty of the petty crime by the Ayer Keroh Magistrate’s Court to pay for the cost of goods that he had stolen on Jan 21.
“Despite his appeal that he has four children to support and that life has been difficult for him, the judge imposed a RM1,500 fine which is more than ten times the value of the stolen goods,” penned former TV3 chief news editor Mohd Khaidir Ahmad on his Facebook page.
“If he fails to pay, be faces imprisonment for one month which would separate him from the family he was trying to protect. We don’t condone the act of stealing but this story touches the soul with deep sadness.”
Added the artist, environmentalist, public speaker and motivator: “This is a tragic reminder of how the system oppresses the poor, trapping them in a hopeless cycle while their cries go unheeded.”
The FB post by Khaidir was picked up English language The Coverage Media which elicited so much sense of humanity from caring Malaysians.
“How can I help him? Would love to just pay the fine for him so he can return to family. How do we go about it this?” asked Penang’s Convent Light Street alumnus Kiran Belani which triggered a slew of insight into the plight of ordinary citizens who are gripped by life’s hardship.
Most notably, Kiran is not alone for many are eager to chip in for the noble cause.
A speechless South East Asian Central Banks (SEACEN) senior economist Nur Ain Shahrier wondered “how can the judge make such ruling?” when compassion should be the call of thew day for “there’re times when justice needs to be tempered with mercy”.
That question must have crossed the minds of many but very few dared to openly expressed it for fear of contempt of court.
Some rightly feel that the learned judge should also summon “the Welfare and Zakat Departments plus the DUN (state assemblyman) to explain the reasons of their inefficiency in tracing and giving aid to the offender”.
But alas, probably it is already a known fact that “to get aid from JKM (Social Welfare Department) or Zakat (Department of Awqaf, Zakat and Haj) requires one to go through such hassle and time-consuming red tape!” while “those who’re not “authentically” eligible gets the aid”.
Well, some food for thought perhaps for the learned magistrate who impose the RM1,500 fine which may be chicken feed to the affluent but a humongous sum for the truly desperate father of four – “rules can be bend but need not be broken”.
Otherwise, public perception that “the law doesn’t apply to the rich for it only applies to the poor” shall linger on.
- focus malaysia
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.