KUALA LUMPUR, May 5 — Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir has joined the online censure of Majlis Amanah Rakyat’s (MARA) decision to give a Malaysian convicted of child porn by the UK a “second chance”.

Taking to Twitter to express her outrage, the social activist pointed out that paedophiles are exposed and tracked in countries such as the UK and Australia to inform the public of the danger such individuals posed.

“What they DON’T do is give them second chances and scholarships #keeppaedophilesawayfromourkids,” she wrote on Twitter.

Marina also questioned the rationale of Mara labelling Nur Fitri an “exemplary student”, asking the council what sort of scholar keeps over 30,000 videos and photos of child porn as Nur Fitri Azmeer Nordin is reported to have done.

She also asserted that the 23-year-old would have been given a harsher sentence under Malaysia’s Penal Code than he received in the UK if he had been convicted here.

“Every day I feel more and more that our people have lost their moral bearings. Obsessed over dogs and hugs but uncaring over child abuse,” she wrote.

The eldest daughter of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was likely referring to the “I Want To Touch A Dog” event last year that triggered outrage after some Muslims were photographed petting dogs and a K-Pop concert where Malay girls were criticised for allowing members of the band hug them.

Malaysians have taken to social media to roundly criticise MARA’s decision to offer Nur Fitri a place at any of its institutions of higher learning after he completes his five-year jail sentence in the UK.

According to British media last week, Nur Fitri, who was studying on a MARA scholarship in the Imperial College of London, was found to be in possession of over 30,000 videos and photographs of child pornography.

Police who raided his home in London found the 23-year-old sitting beside a life-sized mannequin of a young boy. He reportedly possessed 601 “Category A” videos and images, which depicted abuse involving penetrative sexual acts with children.

MARA had then announced that it had cancelled Nur Fitri’s loan after confirming that it had suspended funds for the student in November last year when he was first arrested by the London Metropolitan Police.

MARA also said that according to British law, a foreigner who has served two thirds of his sentence is eligible to be deported to his home country, and claimed this would be within four weeks of Nur Fitri’s conviction date.

It is unclear how MARA arrived at the conclusion, as according to British media reports, Nur Fitri was sentenced to five years’ jail in the UK last Friday.