Recently, there has been much debate over giving a second chance to people convicted of crimes. People in power and many online media users are asking for convicts like drug smugglers to paedophiles to be given the opportunity to turn over a new leaf.
For example, look at the amount of support the Australian so-called Bali Nine drug smugglers received even after Indonesia went ahead with its decision to execute them in front of a firing squad.
Australia upset over the execution decided to recall its ambassador while Facebook walls were filled with angry and disappointed comments.
READ:
Indonesia executes foreign drug convicts, defying global anger
Profiles of foreigners due to be executed in Indonesia
Just wondering, if the Australian duo, Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan were caught in Singapore and were executed in the republic, would the International world react the same way?
Would we still talk about second chances when it comes to drug trafficking offences in Singapore, which despite being a modern society and known for its Western ideas, is also well known for its strict stand over drug trafficking?
Or did the whole fiasco and the diplomatic row take place because the execution happened in an Islamic country like Indonesia?
Let’s come back to the local scene. We now have the case of a paedophile who is currently serving jail time in the United Kingdom after police found 30,000 pornographic images and videos of children in his possession.
Nur Fitri Azmeer Nordin who was charged last November, was caught in possession of 601 videos and images belonging to category A (abuse involving penetrative sexual activity with children), as well as hundreds of category B and C ones.
In the UK, Category A is use to define the most extreme form of child sexual abuse involving penetrative sex with a child.
According to British newspapers, the smart mathematics student at Imperial College London was arrested during a raid at his home in Queensborough Terrace nearby Hyde Park on Nov 20 last year, while 600 category 'A' videos and images - defined by the British authorities as 'extreme form of child sexual abuse' were seized.
When the police raided his apartment, they found him with his laptop open, sitting next to a life-sized mannequin of a boy.
Despite the graveness of the crime and its heinous nature, a Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) council member wants to give Nur Fitri another chance by allowing him to continue his studies at any MARA institutions after he ends his jail stint.
MARA had awarded the student the scholarship to study in UK.
So, what are we trying to prove here?
If we really are compassionate, accept that people have changed and are willing to forgive them, then can we apply the same principles on others, say the controversial blogger Alvin Tan, student activists Fahmi Zainol and Adam Adli?
Would the authorities be willing to forgive and guide these people to a better life?
Yes, the offences nor the quantum is not the same but the question here is about compassion and forgiveness, regardless of the crime or sin.
A person with 30,000 child pornography material is more dangerous than a stupid blogger who makes fun of everything under the sun but are we ready to see it that way?
So, if we are going to forgive Nur Fitri, then it is only fair that we show our compassion to others too.
Suganthi Suparmaniam
Wed May 06 2015
![Not everyone deserve a second chance, really Not everyone deserve a second chance, really](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2015-05/71430529385_295x200.jpg)
Nur Fitri Azmeer Nordin who was charged last November, was caught in possession of 601 videos and images belonging to category A (abuse involving penetrative sexual activity with children), as well as hundreds of category B and C ones.
10 Berita Pilihan - (16 Julai 2024
Antara pelbagai berita dalam dan luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
PAC beri tempoh tiga bulan kepada HRD Corp
Jawatankuasa Kira-kira Wang Negara (PAC) memberi tempoh tiga bulan kepada Perbadanan Pembangunan Sumber Manusia (HRD Corp) untuk mengemukakan laporan tindakan susulan terhadap syor jawatankuasa itu.
Kylian Mbappe tandatangan kontrak dengan Real Madrid
Bintang bola sepak Perancis Kylian Mbappe menandatangani kontrak selama lima tahun dengan kelab Sepanyol Real Madrid pada Selasa.
Pelepasan ketujuh air sisa nuklear Fukushima ke laut selesai
Jepun telah menyelesaikan pusingan ketujuh pelepasan air sisa radioaktif yang dirawat dari loji kuasa nuklear Fukushima Daiichi ke Lautan Pasifik pada Selasa.
Empat termasuk kapten maut dalam pertempuran
Empat anggota tentera India termasuk kapten meninggal dunia akibat kecederaan selepas pertempuuran pada malam isnin di Hutan Desa.
Pakistan sahkan 4 warganya terbunuh di Oman
Pakistan berkata pada Selasa empat warganya terbunuh dalam insiden tembakan pada malam Isnin berhampiran ibu negara Oman, Muscat.
Lima terbunuh, puluhan cedera dalam protes antikuota di Bangladesh
Sekurang-kurangnya empat orang terbunuh dan puluhan lagi cedera dalam pertempuran antara pelajar yang memprotes sistem kuota dalam pekerjaan sektor awam dan polis di pelbagai bahagian Bangladesh pada Selasa.
Kerajaan cadang perkenal pembiayaan swasta
Kerajaan menyasarkan untuk memperkenalkan pembiayaan swasta alternatif bagi memastikan kemampanan kewangan program sektor air, sekali gus mengurangkan kebergantungan pada perbelanjaan kerajaan dan mengukuhkan daya tahan.
Saya tak fitnah Guan Eng, cuma jelaskan siasatan SPRM - Muhyiddin
Presiden Bersatu Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin memberitahu Mahkamah Tinggi Kuala Lumpur hari ini bahawa beliau tidak memfitnah Lim Guan Eng berhubung isu pengecualian cukai terhadap Yayasan Albukhary
KPT alu-alukan dapatan, cadangan PAC - Zambry
Ini termasuklah cadangan pelaksanaan Garis Panduan Pelaburan dan Pembiayaan oleh Universiti Awam 2024 kepada anak-anak syarikat di bawah seliaan Kementerian Pendidikan Tinggi (KPT).
![Lelaki rakam, jual aksi lucah dengan kanak-kanak dihukum penjara 374 tahun Lelaki rakam, jual aksi lucah dengan kanak-kanak dihukum penjara 374 tahun](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2019-10/81571362786_kidsabuse.jpg)
Lelaki rakam, jual aksi lucah dengan kanak-kanak dihukum penjara 374 tahun
Yuttana Kodsap dijatuhkan hukuman 374 tahun selepas memerangkap kanak-kanak menggunakan permainan komputer untuk tujuan merakam pornografi.