KUALA LUMPUR: Netizens are outraged over a RM100 fine imposed on a welfare worker who was charged for an offence linked to the death of social media influencer A. Rajeshwary, who allegedly committed suicide earlier this month.
Many people expressed unhappiness at how such a serious offence could only warrant a slap on the wrist.
They described the fine as an insult as the case led to a person's death.
Rajakumar S Loganathan said it was shocking that a person could be fined much more for parking or traffic-related offences.
"Roadside parking results in a RM100 fine and speeding results in a RM300 fine.
"But causing mental distress that leads to someone's suicide only incurs a RM100 fine?" he said in a thread on the New Straits Times social media platform.
Another netizen user Kevin Pereira Jr said people will take the law less seriously when they see such low fines for serious cases.
"RM100 only? No wonder people are not taking the law seriously. I wouldn't, for sure," he said.
Tang Wyman was another person who expressed shock at the paltry fine, and said the amount did not commensurate with the loss of a person's life.
"Only RM100? Don't bother with the fine; this is already an insult. A life has already been lost."
User Michael Ung added that the RM100 fine was insufficient for causing mental distress which led to the victim's suicide.
He said people such a small fine will not prevent other people from committing the same offence.
"RM100 fine? That's not even enough to cover court expenses and isn't a sufficient deterrent!"
Another social media agreed with this point and said that the woman who had been charged in court might become a repeat offender.
"RM100 is only 'celah gigi' (a trivial amount) for her to pay. I will not be surprised if she commits the same offences against other people," said user @eykienoladeamor on Instagram.
Netizen @sharmielaanassen also expressed her concern that the RM100 fine will lead to people feeling that they can get away with it when they commit such an offence.
"I didn't realise I could harm someone through bullying and it would only cost me RM100 as a penalty.
"Being charged seems to have fed her ego. If she can get away with only RM100, then she will repeat it tonight," said user @praveenaa.
Welfare home owner Shalini Periasamy, 35, was fined RM100 by the Kuala Lumpur magistrate's court for uttering vulgarities to disturb the peace and provoke anger through her TikTok account 'alphaquinnsha' this month.
The offence was linked to the Rajeshwary's alleged suicide.
The charge is under Section 14 of the Minor Offences Act.