AN online petition demanding a harsher sentence for Rozita Mohd Ali, charged with abusing her maid, has received nearly double its target of 15,000 signatures in under a day.

As of 10pm, more than 26,000 people have signed the online petition launched yesterday calling for Rozita to be charged with attempted murder or intent to cause serious bodily harm. 

The petition, titled “Calling for equal justice”, targeted 15,000 Malaysians to sign it and is addressed to Prime Minister Najib Razak and de facto law minister Azalina Othman Said. 

The petiton on change.org highlighted Rozita’s behaviour towards her maid was despicable, inhumane and should result in stricter punishment than a “good behaviour bond”.

It said that she should have been charged with attempted murder or intent to cause serious bodily harm.

“We elected a government that should not have any influence in our justice system. Even if she was a datin, rich or had connections, it doesn’t give her the right to treat people like that. 

“What message are we sending to our people and children? Malaysia needs to seriously look at our human rights issue.”

Attorney General Mohamed Apandi Ali had said that he had instructed for an appeal to be filed against the inadequacy of the sentence.

Last week, the Sessions Court had ordered Rozita to be placed on a good behaviour bond for five years with surety of RM20,00 for causing grievous hurt on her Indonesian maid.

Judge Mohammed Mokhzani Mokhtar had meted out the sentence after Rozita pleaded guilty to an amended charge with causing grievous hurt on the maid. 

Rozita, 44, was charged with voluntarily causing grievous hurt on Suyanti Sutrinso, 19, with a knife, mop, umbrella, iron rod and clothes hanger.

The offence was committed at a house in Jalan PJU 7/30, Mutiara Damansara, between 7am and noon on June 21, 2016. – March 18, 2018.