LAW and order form the bedrock of any civilised society, and for good reasons. The economy of the country would simply come crashing down if thieves and thugs get to do whatever they want unchecked.
Take for example, most Malaysians would welcome the news of a certain high profile politician returning to Kajang prison as a triumph of justice. But let’s take a twist with this recent post by @NewsBFM, and we are not so certain anymore.
According to the post, a father was sentenced to a month in prison just for stealing RM113.70 worth of goods for his family.
A father of two was sentenced to one month in jail for stealing household items worth RM113.70 from a Kuala Terengganu supermarket on Jan 1.
Azrul Haqim, 29, admitted that he took a bottle of Carrie Junior Hair and Body Wash, shampoo and a singlet for his family’s needs.
— BFM News (@NewsBFM) January 5, 2026
Just from the description, we can all tell that this is a man who needs financial assistance not jail time. And that was exactly what the majority of the netizens thought as can be seen in the comment section.
Already the post has become a forum of sorts on the cyberspace. “He stole because he had no choice for his family,” said @ManjitSinghG5, adding that the man did not hurt anyone.
Another netizen thought that the system should be revamped, that for goods stolen below RM10,000, the punishment should be community work according to the hours.
Sounds reasonable, and perhaps the idea could be worked on and applied for cases such as this.
Perhaps the best comment came from @Mikeshashimi who said, “So not only will the family be without a Carrie Junior Hair and Body Wash, shampoo and a singlet, they’ll also be without a father and a husband.”
Shots were also fired by @inisaiful09, pointing out that the law only works on the common citizen, poor people or people from the B40 category.
Then there was a cheeky @3ricO2l7, asking the AI Grok that if someone has to go to jail for 1 month for stealing RM113.70 worth of goods, then how about RM 2.67 bil?
Grok’s answer was as shocking as it was illuminating.
Away from the jokes, @nefauzii provides valuable advice to those who are in desperate need of assistance.
According to him, it was vital to go to a Zakat centre to ask for assistance. Either that or a local mosque. “Remember you’re not alone, Malaysians are generally nice people. Just ask,” he said. —Jan 6, 2025
Main image: iStock
