KUALA LUMPUR: The public should not act as judge, prosecutor and executioner on any offences made by individuals, including one who was "bathed like a corpse" for stealing from a mosque.
Parliament Select Committee on Women and Children Affairs and Social Development chairman Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said in a statement today said it was appropriate and reasonable for the public to respect the existing judicial processes and institutions as opposed to trying to administer justice personally.
"Based on Section 27 of the Criminal Procedure Code, arrests by the public can only be made for non-bailable offences and handing over the arrested person to the police.
"The videos that were circulated on social media are outrageous, worrying and invite more harm; especially to the psychological aspects of the accused, Daniel Iskandar, and his family.
"The actions of the mosque committee members as displayed in the video are likely to be investigated under Section 323 and Section 352 of the Penal Code."
The Pengerang member of parliament stressed no one was exempt from or above the law, and that religious leaders are community figures who need to set good examples for the people.
The statement was signed by committee members, Datuk Seri Hasan Arifin (Rompin MP); Rubiah Wang (Kota Samarahan MP); Che Alias Hamid (Kemaman MP); Ahmad Tarmizi Sulaiman (Sik); Fuziah Salleh (Kuantan); Fahmi Fadzil (Lembah Pantai); Alice Lau (Lanang) and Hannah Yeoh (Segambut).
On Jan 10, a video was circulated on social media showing Daniel, 19, who was fully clothed being "bathed like a corpse," or "mandi jenazah", which is a ritual usually performed by Muslims during a funeral, by committee members of a mosque in Rawang, Selangor.
It is understood the act was done to make an example of the youth who attempted to steal a donation box from the mosque.
The act by the mosque officials received mixed responses but many stood behind the teenager claiming that he was cyberbullied by the mosque committee for sharing the video online.
Yesterday, the Selayang Magistrate Court had sentenced the 19-year-old to 10 days in jail and an RM4,000 fine after he pleaded guilty to theft.
