Let us face the fact that humans do make mistakes occasionally. The case of Nepalese Mangal Bahadur Gurung being illegally incarcerated for 51days and given one stroke of the rotan by our Malaysian courts is a mistake by the immigration department. Some of you may say that it is sheer negligence by the immigration department which I do not disagree.

What fascinates me is how did the Malaysian government recently come to the figure of RM8,340 as compensation to him? Presumably, the government officer handling this case must have thought it fair. I think all Malaysians would like to know how the government worked out this figure right down to the hundred and tens. There must be a formula lurking somewhere and we have the right to know.

I disagree with Tenaganita's view that RM8,340 is a paltry sum for in Nepali rupees it is Np161,216. For half that amount, you can buy a kidney from some poor Nepali. You can even buy a couple of 'lakhs' of land in Nepal.

However if we look at it by Malaysian standards, to be incarcerated for that period of time and be given one stroke of the rotan, the compensation is very low.

So what then is the fair sum to compensate Mangal Bahadur Gurung and to help this Nepali to get on with life? I am of the view that the first thing the Malaysian government should do is send our ambassador to apologise to Mangal on behalf of Malaysia, assess his situation and give him all the aid that he requires.

I am of the view that Np1,000,000 (RM51,73) is about the right amount for the pain, suffering and humiliation that he has endured.