[UPDATED] Protesters gather outside S’pore High Commission over Nagaenthran’s imminent execution

KUALA LUMPUR – Political groups and civil society organisations gathered today to protest against the Singapore government’s decision to proceed with the execution of mentally disabled Malaysian Nagaenthran K. Dharmalingam on April 27.

Converging outside the Singapore High Commission here, the crowd of about 200 people saw individuals from Wanita MIC and MIC Youth as well as representatives from human rights NGO Lawyers for Liberty.

Under the watchful eye of police personnel, the protesters chanted calls for Nagaenthran’s life to be spared while holding posters and banners saying the same.

Former MIC Youth chief Thinalan Rajagopal told reporters that the wing’s delegation is appealing for Singapore President Halimah Yacob to pardon Nagaenthran from the death sentence in light of his intellectual handicap.

“The Singapore court must take into consideration Nagaenthran’s low IQ level as, according to international law, no one with a mental disability should be hanged. 

“Kindly follow such international laws and listen to our pleas,” he said after handing over to security guards at the commission a memorandum addressed to Singaporean High Commissioner to Malaysia H.E. Vanu Gopala Menon.

Similarly, Lawyers for Liberty head coordinator Zaid Malek said that the protest was motivated by mounting anguish with the island republic’s stance on resorting to capital punishment.

He said that the gathering was a way to express concern at continuing with the execution of Nagaenthran despite his intellectual disability and deteriorating mental health throughout his case.

Noting that the Anti-Death Penalty Asia Network (Adpan) had yesterday submitted a memorandum to the Malaysian Home Ministry calling for it to bring Nagaenthran back to Malaysia through an international prisoner transfer programme, Zaid urged Putrajaya to step in as soon as possible.

Nagaenthran was arrested in 2009 and found guilty a year later for trafficking in 42.72g of heroin.

During his trial, it was established that Nagaenthran had an IQ of 69, but the judge ruled that he was on the borderline of having a functional intellect, with the court concluding that he was aware he was committing a crime.

Also, part of the crowd was Angelia Pranthaman, whose brother Pannir Selvam Pranthaman is on death row in Singapore after having been convicted of trafficking 51.84g of heroin at the Woodlands Checkpoint in September 2014 and sentenced to death in May 2017.

A visibly emotional Angelia said that she is ready to go anywhere to support the quest to do away with the death penalty, especially since she has first-hand experience with how emotionally and mentally taxing the ordeal can be.

“My brother has been in prison for eight years now. When I visited him last week after years of just hearing his voice over the phone, I could tell that he was very anxious about his relationship with the rest of our family.

“I would not wish on anyone what my family has gone through, and I am ready to show up and add my voice to support those striving for justice.

“Not everything is a success but at least we can try,” she said, adding that her family is attempting to convert Pannir’s sentence to life imprisonment after he was given a stay of execution last year. – The Vibes file pic, April 23, 2022