Hakam lauds govt's move to abolish death sentence for drug related offences

PETALING JAYA: The National Human Rights Society of Malaysia (Hakam) today welcomed the government's move to abolish the mandatory death sentence for drug related offences.
Its president, Datuk S. Ambiga, urged the government to abolish the mandatory death sentence in its entirety for all criminal offences.
"The mandatory death sentence deprives the sentencing judge of the discretion to consider all relevant facts of the case and the individual circumstances of each convicted person.
"While removing the mandatory death sentence is a step in the right direction, we would call on the government to abolish the mandatory death sentence in its entirety for all criminal offences," she said in a statement today.
Ambiga further urged the government to impose a moratorium on the execution of 1,022 death row prisoners currently waiting for execution pending the abolition of the mandatory death sentence for all criminal
offences.
"Malaysia must show a genuine commitment to abide by international norms in relation to the right to life and the prohibition against cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment.
"We hope the government will continue taking steps in the right direction towards the ultimate abolishment of the death penalty," she said.
On Nov 17, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nancy Shukri said the government was looking to table this motion during the next Parliament sitting in March.