COMMENT | Malaysians from all walk of life eagerly await disgraced former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak’s appeal against his conviction and sentence on the SRC International Sdn Bhd criminal case, which he is entitled to under our judicial system.

The merits of his case will be decided by an appellate court, but this has not prevented the ordinary rakyat from making remarks ranging from facts-based comments to incredulous statements, some which border on stupidity. It has also fawned satirical asides.

Posts in social media are feeding the frenzy and because the decision will be made by a panel of judges and not by a jury, the rules of sub judice have been ignored. It now appears to be a free-for-all pending the disposal of the appeal.

Likewise, Najib and his supporters have been equally vocal and making extra-judicial comments. The media has accorded them the coverage that they are desperately seeking, but isn’t what is said ought to have been said in mitigation?

As one former editor noted: “Why is the media giving Najib the space and time to spew his delusional diatribe? He had more than his day (in fact, weeks) in court to clear his name and dispute the charges. And he was found guilty and duly sentenced...