On 14 November, 7 inmates, under death row, for drug related offences had their sentences reduced to 30 years and 4 others serving a natural-life prison term, had their sentences reduced as well.
This is indeed a landmark and historic decision by the Federal Court after the mandatory death penalty was abolished on the 9th of April 2023, which took effect in September 2023.
This may not have happened if we did not have Minister of Law and Institutional Reform Dato’ Sri Azalina Othman Said and Deputy Minister Ramkarpal Singh under the leadership of Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim steering the MADANI Government, to believe in the power of persuasion, political will and determination to reform the criminal justice system in Malaysia.
With Malaysia taking the stage at many international forums, calling for greater integrity, conviction and good governance, the move to abolish the death penalty and to introduce a re-sentencing provision and also reviewing imprisonment terms between 30 to 40 years.
This important move on re-sentencing shows that the Government is serious about doing what is right and their commitment to move in the direction of rehabilitative justice and restorative justice instead of the retributive policy of the past.
However, we are still a long way to go in aspects of upholding human rights in the country. On the subject of the death penalty, it is not merely to pertain to the existence of capital punishment but further on transparency and accountability on the part of the police, the Deputy Public Prosecutor, the prison wardens, the judiciary and the public at large.
Malaysia still remains as part of a pool of nations that still have the death penalty but the silver lining is that we still have a moratorium on executions and this position must be maintained by the Government of the day. This has enhanced Malaysia’s position, which voted in favour, in December 2022 at the UN General Assembly, on a resolution for a moratorium, with a view to abolish the death penalty, all together.
This momentum must be maintained and propelled further to make amendments to abolish whipping in totality as well.
Teresa Kok