KUALA LUMPUR, May 6 — Putrajaya should focus on keeping Malaysian children protected from paedophiles like Nur Fitri Azmeer by making sure the 23-year-old is fully rehabilitated before he is granted admission into any learning institutions here, DAP’s Yeo Bee Yin said.

The Damansara Utama assemblyman said Nur Fitri should be put under strict surveillance in Malaysia for a period of time after he returns from serving his jail sentence in the UK, where he was caught with child pornography.

“We must make sure that convicts like Nur Fitri are fully rehabilitated upon their release from jail,” she said, echoing a similar view raised earlier today by G25 coordinator Datuk Noor Farida Ariffin.

“There must be personnel who are in charge of monitoring their behaviours for an extended period of time beyond their jail terms.

“Former convicts should be prohibited by law from taking jobs that are related to children such as teachers and coaches,” Yeo added.

The Selangor lawmaker also expressed disgust at Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal’s suggestion that the government should appeal Nur Fitri’s five-year jail sentence, saying this was akin to Putrajaya using taxpayers money to protect a paedophile.

“Such government action will send a terribly wrong signal to Malaysians that paedophilia is alright.

“Nur Fitri is a disgrace to our country and the fact that Shafie Apdal intends to appeal for him is even more disgraceful,” she said.

She urged Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Rohani Abdul Karim to speak up on the issue, saying it was the latter’s duty to ensure children here are protected.

On Majlis Amanah Rakyat’s (MARA) decision to allow Nur Fitri to resume his studies at any of its institutions in Malaysia upon his release from jail in the UK, Yeo said the agency should review its selection policy on scholarships.

“Taxpayers’ monies wasted on a paedophile!” she said.

Nur Fitri was sentenced to five years’ jail in the UK last week after he was convicted of possessing thousands of videos and photos of child porn including 601 “Category A” images depicting penetrative sex with minors.

Police who raided his home in London had also found the 23-year-old sitting beside a life-sized mannequin of a young boy.

MARA initially 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.

But the council has since said it will offer him a “second chance” and allow him to study at any of its institutions of higher learning upon the completion of his sentence.

Shafie also announced that his ministry may apply to reduce Nur Fitri’s sentence.