Prime Minister Najib Razak took time off from his busy schedule to address the incident where hypermarket chain Tesco Malaysia decided to offer a man caught shoplifting from one of its stores a job instead of a jail term.
The PM had nothing but good things to say about Tesco and its willingness to forgive and empathise, especially since the shoplifter was later found to be in dire financial straits with three children to feed and a wife warded in intesive care.
Of course, Najib had to point out in his blog post, entitled “Man Jadda Wajada” (an Arabic quote meaning “He Who Strives, Succeeds”) stealing isn’t the way to get a job. Or to feed your starving family, even.
“I’d like to take this opportunity to remind all Malaysians that there are numerous avenues to procure financial aid and to legally gain income,” he wrote.
He cited the Social Welfare Department as an agency where citizens in need could get advice, monetary assistance, and job opportunities. For Muslim Malaysians, he noted that they could also consult the Zakat Board, which manages and disburses collected alms to the needy.
