YOURSAY | ‘TMJ must step in and make sure this teenager is set free.’

Wrong to jail people over football comments, says rights group

Kim Quek: The increasing propensity to make a mountain out of a molehill by law enforcing institutions and the judiciary in recent times as exemplified by the current case is symbolic of the current state of rule.

It is a manifestation of the downward spiral in all fields that this country is trending under the allegedly morally bankrupt rule of Najib Abdul Razak/Umno.

Hang Babeuf: It’s wrong to jail people over football comments, and wrong, too, to jail people for having democratic non-royalist sentiments. Or non-conforming religious ideas.

But Malaysian society these days doesn’t operate on that sensible basis. Instead, it’s punish first, then (perhaps) think later. But only ‘safe’ thoughts, mind you.

Ferdtan: Arsène Wenger is the manager of Arsenal, and he gets a lot of brickbats and insults from the club supporters as well as from fans of opponent clubs.

So what if a member of royalty is involved here? The praise and criticism should come with the job. The question is whether this has any political undertone.

Legit: As the crown prince of Johor (TMJ) does not condone the sentencing of this boy, he should ask the court to withdraw the case against Amirul Azwan Mohd Shakri.

The legal system in this country is nothing but a laughing stock. The alleged thieves, killers, cheats and crooks calling themselves leaders are roaming around freely but a poor boy is sent to one year’s jail just for an innocent tweet. What a joke.

Touche: Indeed, how come the court thinks it’s right to jail a boy for posting some comments, but not charge and jail somebody for allegedly stealing RM2.6 billion. This is the biggest injustice meted out by the Malaysian courts.

Fair Play: The Land of Endless Possibilities will give rise to endless permutations as to what are right and what are wrong.

Roar For Truth: The learned judge may be said to have a lot to learn about tempering justice with mercy.

The sad fact is that Amirul is just a labourer, so he is given the maximum sentence, but had he been a son of a VIP, his sentence may have been minimal instead.

RR: A judge should not just focus on law alone. He should scrutinise the facts and circumstances of the case, especially when the affected party (TMJ) has condoned the accused.

This is why we say the law is an ass if it is not constructed with conscience.

Anonymous_1378093545: TMJ must step in and make sure this teenager is set free. It all goes with being in the limelight - you get praises and you get unpleasantries.

You cannot and should not persecute someone over comments made, especially with regard to a game where people do tend to get emotional.

So sad to see this happen in Johor - the state most Malaysians were beginning to look up to. Please set this injustice right, TMJ.

Dont Just Talk: Lawyers for Liberty executive director Eric Paulsen, please take up the appeal case to the High Court on a pro-bono basis on behalf of Amirul, who is 19 years of age, failed to complete schooling and apparently his first time on Facebook, not knowing that his comments on TMJ were seditious.

TMJ had stated that he would rather meet with Amirul to clear up whatever misunderstanding he had with JDT (Johor) football club than to see him charged in court.

Negarawan: If the aggrieved party, in this case TMJ, has verbally pardoned Amirul and had in fact offered to have a face-to-face talk with him, then why was such harsh action taken?

TMJ has shown his magnanimity, but why hasn't this translated into a pardon for Amirul? Instead it seems that the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) were said to be over-enthusiastic about the whole matter and have taken the law into their own hands.

Lamps: Malaysia is the new North Korea. Soon, Malaysia will be North Korea with hudud.

Justice system can use a new champion, Zaid tells prince

1Citizen: Fining or jailing this poor labourer benefits nobody, least of all him. It’s about time the justice system got more enlightened for socially positive outcomes.

It would be more productive if the man was made to clean public toilets, for example. The shame would make him think twice the next time, deter others and save costs.

The Analyser: The justice system needs a change in government. The justice system needs to divorce itself from religious and political interference.

Change has to come from the people of Malaysia who conveniently have been abandoned by all political parties as they pursue their own personal goals.

In the absence of any political direction, we have every whacko in the country charging off to pursue their own goals, from secession to royal interference in the judiciary.

And you wonder why this country is so dysfunctional?

Eagle: If the prince didn't say he was offended, how can a person be convicted of offending the prince? Can some lawyer explain, please?

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