Former law minister Zaid Ibrahim has requested Johor Crown Prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim to intervene in the case of Muhammad Amirul Azwan Mohd Shakri.

“Johor crown prince looks to me as someone who is open-minded, and a forgiving leader,” he said in a Twitter post.

Muhammad Amirul, 19, was slapped with a one-year jail sentence after pleading guilty to 14 counts of intentionally insulting the prince on Facebook.

He was charged and sentenced under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.

Muhammad Amirul, a labourer, was arrested on April 28 and sentenced yesterday.

Meanwhile, Zaid, who is often critical of the justice system, said the situation needed fixing.

“Our justice system is now soiled by too much patronage and politics.

“A monarch can soothe the rough edges. Justice can do with a new champion,” he added.

Earlier, student group Challenger also asked the prince to intervene in the matter, with its president urging Tunku Ismail to show magnanimity.

The sentence also illicited a snide response from former information minister Zainuddin Maidin.

"A labourer who has younger siblings to care for is sentenced to a year's jail for insulting a Johor royal. Next time, remember that royals have sovereignty," he said on Twitter.

Seorang buruh yg mempunyai adik beradik utk dijaga dihukum penjara setahun kerna hina keluarga diraja Johor. Lain kali ingat raja berdaulat

— Zainudin Maidin (@ZainudinMaidin) June 8, 2016

Several individuals have been arrested in the past weeks for allegedly making remarks against the prince on social media.

Last week, the prince called on the police to refrain from arresting those who criticise him.

Instead, Tunku Ismail said he preferred to meet these people face-to-face.

“I would prefer it if the authorities can organise a meeting for me to meet with these people and give them the privilege of saying what they want to say to my face, man to man. I would appreciate it if you can agree to my humble proposal,” he said in a Facebook post.