The Majlis Amanah Raya (Mara) councillor whose comments on convicted child pornography collector Nur Fitri Azmeer Nordin caused an outcry , today said his remarks were taken out of context.
Nazir Hussin Akhtar Hussin said although he believes everyone should be given second chances , as reported in Malay language portal mStar , he was not speaking in the capacity of a Mara councillor.
His clarification also comes as Mara reiterates that Nur Fitri has to pay back the entire sum extended to him for his studies.
"My comments were made in my personal capacity and not as a Mara representative as reported, because I have no capacity to do so […]
"I have contacted the reporter to correct the article because it has tarnished my image as a Mara councillor and Umno Youth exco member, but no action has been taken.
"I am disappointed that I have been made the black sheep of this portal, who may have the agenda of defending Nur Fitri," he said in a statement.
He "warned" the portal of "further action" if it does not correct the report.
Nazir Hussin also appended a transcript of the conversation, where he was specifically asked on Nur Fitri.
He answered: "I feel he has to be given a second chance for his future. Everyone makes mistakes."
The transcript also showed Nazir Hussin stressing several time that he cannot speak for Mara and that the body will make a formal decision.
"Personally I feel everyone makes mistakes. I am not speaking about Nur Fitri specifically but in general terms.
"If someone makes mistakes like being truant, dropping out of school at a young age, stealing and so on, and realises this mistake at a later date, that person deserves a second chance," he said, according to the transcript.
'Pay back the loan'
Meanwhile, Mara corporate communications director Rohayah Mohd Zain said it decided to cancel the student loan to Nur Fitri after he plead guilty to being in posession of child pornography at the Southwark Crown, London court on April 30.
His loan has been suspended in November 2014 whe he was remanded, Bernama quoted Rohayah as saying in a statement.
Mara student loans can converted into a scholarship upon good academic performance.
Mara chairperson Annuar Musa (photo) , however, advised all, "especially leaders" not to be hasty in making condemnation.
"Helping those with problems is our responsibility," said Annuar, who is also BN's Ketereh MP, said on his Facebook page.
"There is a limit to condemnation. Simply condemning does not benefit anyone.
"God can forgive, so who are we (to do otherwise)?" he asked.
Annuar's comments come after Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin said no financial support should be given to Nur Fitri, who should pull himself up by his own bootstrings after serving his sentence.
Nur Fitri, a Mara scholar at Imperial College, London described as a "math genius", was convicted in the UK of having more than 30,000 copies of child pornography in his electronic devices.
He plead guilty to charges of posessig, making and distributing pornographic images of children and was sentenced to five years' jail, local media reported.
Read more at: http://www.london24.com/news/crime/imperial_student_watched_extreme_child_porn_next_to_kid_sized_mannequin_1_4056959
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Mstar reported Nazir Hussin as saying that Mara is prepared to offer him a scholarship to resume his studies locally.
Netizens expressed their outrage over the news that Mara is offering the support Nur Fitri through the Twitter hashtag #NoSecondChances, which topped the Malaysian Twitter trending list.
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