YOURSAY ‘Put him in prison, where he can wash toilets, sew uniforms and break stones.’

Khir Toyo offers free dental care to poor in lieu of jail

Turvy: Restitution is a noble concept - it works against unfair or criminal enrichment. When applied to victims of crime, it moves beyond vengeance by restoring to the victim what was his before the crime.

In this case, the offer by the convict would have been more persuasive if it had been an offer to restore to the state everything former Selangor menteri besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo took which was not his.

A full accounting of his years in office would have given a sharper ring of sincerity to his contrition following his conviction.

Tan Kim Keong: He is not a penitent. Why? Otherwise he would not have appealed and now he said that he is not aware that he has committed a corrupt act.

He must serve the full sentence and to prove his repentance, he must also provide free dental service. The penitentiary system can arrange for him to do this.

P Dev Anand Pillai: The courts are relentless when it comes to the common man, who is most likely a nobody, but when it comes to the former "fat cats" from the chosen party, they are allowed to suggest alternatives to custodial sentences.

The court should take into account that he was the chief executive of a state, a position of trust which he must not betray.

A classic example of a principled menteri besar would be the late Nik Aziz Nik Mat, who did not even stay in the official residence provided to the Kelantan MB.

SSDhaliwal: What kind of precedence will this set if his request is granted by the court? It would mean that the rich can buy their way out of a jail sentence by doing community service using their ill-gotten funds.

Khir’s request should be granted but not in lieu of a jail sentence. A message has to be sent that you cannot buy you way out after you have been found guilty of committing a crime, whether white collar or not.

Anonymous 24331438100949: If Khir’s request is met, then this will start a precedent for all other criminals who may offer all kind of free services.

Khir was a menteri besar, a post which requires him to serve the rakyat. So when he said that he helped to provide jobs to the people and pulled in investments for the state worth billions of ringgit, these were done in his capacity as the MB.

But he didn’t mention that while serving as MB he also spent large sum of taxpayers’ money on lavish overseas trips for him and his family.

If the judges agree to this stupid proposal, then our prisons will be empty.

CHKS: Next time, if a cook caught for corruption, he can offer free cooking service, a teacher caught for corruption, he can offer free tuition, a farmer caught for corruption, he can offer free gardening, a driver caught for corruption, he can offer free transport, a police caught for corruption, he can offer free service as bouncer. And the Sungai Buloh Prison can close shop...

XED: Under the law, because of this very serious offence, the Dental Council can remove or suspend Khir from the register of dental surgeons.

How is he going to provide dental service if he cannot practise? In any case, would you want to see a dentist who has been out of practice for many years?

Put him in prison, where he can wash toilets, clean drains, sew uniforms and break stones. He can learn some humility.

He has been a so-called champion of the Malays but has let down the ordinary Malays who continue to suffer while their leaders steal, lie and cheat.

Sin Lee Huang: Yes, the Dental Council may revoke his licence for conduct unbecoming of a professional.

If not, let me suggest he practice his craft in the prison hospital in exchange for early release for good behaviour. There he can provide his free dental service five days a week and I am sure there will be plenty of overtime opportunity.

Hytan: The trial had dragged through two appeals, and the higher courts upheld the guilty verdict of the High Court judge.

As much time and resources have been expended in this trial, the jail term must be increased instead.

He had abused the high position of his office and must be made to face the penalty of serving time in jail.

Kalvin Rekhraj: In the United Kingdom, dentists get struck off for cheating. And this criminal wants to offer community service in lieu of jail time?

He should be struck off and send to prison. However in Malaysia, anything is possible.

When punishment for sodomy can be harsher than corruption, resulting in long jail time, the judiciary needs to review its sentencing policy.

However, I applaud the Federal Court decision in upholding Khir’s guilty verdict as I was almost certain that it would be overturned.

Not Smart: Two wrongs don't make a right. A crime is a crime and cannot be compensated with his so-called "good deeds".

How can this educated man be forgiven when his intentions were bad from the start? His counsel's justification to lower the punishment makes no sense at all.

The court should in fact double the jail sentence to sent a strong message, especially with rampant corruption in high places.

MacMac: Can murderers offered to serve the community by working in the crematorium or the mortuary three days a week?

Court must set an example - jail for Khir, no less

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