Nga reminisces about lawyer days helping woman who stole milk

Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming shared a heartfelt story about a time he helped a pregnant mother in court.

The Teluk Intan MP recalled taking numerous pro bono cases when he was a practising lawyer, one of which involved the pregnant woman, who had been caught stealing milk powder from a supermarket.

He said upon further investigation, it was revealed she was a repeat offender.

“(For) First time (offender), you can get away by paying compound. The second time, you have to go to jail. So, I appealed for her,” he said in a video posted on X on Sunday.

Nga explained that he defended the mother because her crime was out of desperation - she had stolen the milk powder not for herself but to feed her two children, a baby and the foetus in her womb.

“I told the judge that the law must not only be fair but must also be humane.

“If you (judge) follow the law, she’s going to jail for six months, and she is going to deliver her baby in prison. Can you imagine what will happen to her? The traumatic experience of delivering a baby in prison,” Nga said.

After his appeal, the court agreed to reduce the woman’s sentence to an RM300 compound, which Nga personally paid.

“I didn’t charge her my legal fees and even bought milk powder for her as well.

“I wasn’t rich at that time. But when she cried and shook my hand, I felt so happy.

“By helping people, I believe you will be happier,” he said.

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