KUALA LUMPUR – The abolishment of the death penalty has been a contentious issue over the years, but prison authorities did not object to the move, former attorney-general (AG) Tan Sri Tommy Thomas revealed in his book.
He said the Prisons Board and Prisons Department had no objection to the abolishment of the death penalty, adding that the department did not buy that the punishment is a useful deterrent against drug trafficking.
“More holistic approaches ought to be considered to tackle the massive drug problem afflicting hundreds of thousands of Malaysians. All in all, I found their thinking progressive.
“They regularly attend and host conferences with counterparts in other countries, and are happy to learn about good practices implemented elsewhere,” he wrote in his book, My Story: Justice in the Wilderness.
He also wrote that then home minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin was agreeable to its abolishment.
Thomas informed Muhyiddin that a moratorium on death penalties was in force in Malaysian prisons, and the minister was in favour of continuing the policy.
“When I suggested that he issue a media release on both aspects of the death penalty, the minister agreed, and asked me to draft it. I happily accepted the task. I was impressed with Muhyiddin’s commitment to the cause,” Thomas wrote.
However, Muhyiddin was admitted to a hospital in Singapore a few days later, and the statement was never released.
Thomas in his book wrote about many behind-the-scenes events concerning the development of Malaysian politics during his tenure as AG.
He was appointed after Pakatan Harapan won the general election in 2018, and resigned last February when the administration collapsed.
His book is available for purchase on Gerakbudaya’s website. – The Vibes, January 31, 2021
