KUALA LUMPUR (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK)- A teenager in Malaysia was sentenced to 12 years in jail by the High Court on Friday (May 27) for inciting and promoting acts of terrorism.

High Court Judicial Commissioner Nordin Hassan, who handed out the sentence, said the offence was serious as it involved the safety of society.

"It has a huge impact on the country because of the constant ideological attacks by radicals," said JC Nordin.

"This problem has to be contained. Not only must the teenager's importance and future be taken into account but also the public's," he said.

He added that the sentence had to send a message on the seriousness of the offence and to ensure that others do not commit the same offence.

JC Nordin also said that due to the seriousness of the offence, it was unsuitable for the 17-year-old to be sent to the Henry Gurney School - which caters to juvenile criminals - as recommended by the Welfare Department in a probationary report.

In passing his sentence, he also said that steps must be taken to ensure that the teenager was not allowed to interact or be placed in the same prison cell with adult prisoners so as not to be influenced.

He ordered the sentence to run from the day the teenager was arrested on April 25 last year.

The teenager was found guilty on May 12, but JC Nordin only passed his judgement on Friday while the probationary report was being prepared.

The teenager was arrested together with four other adults by the Bukit Aman Counter Terrorism Unit for an alleged conspiracy to attack government buildings, nightclubs, prostitution centres and other entertainment outlets.

The five were found in possession of chemicals and materials commonly used to make explosives.