PUTRAJAYA – The government has decided to replace the mandatory death penalty with alternative punishments, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.
Wan Junaidi in a statement today said the decision was made after two series of meetings held on September 6 and today by the Substitute Sentences for the Mandatory Death Penalty Task Force Technical Committee, which he had chaired.
He said the government, in principle, has agreed to the proposal to substitute sentences for 11 offences carrying the mandatory death penalty – including one under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 – as well as 22 other offences that also carry the punishment at the discretion of the courts
He added that the government has also decided to provide a moratorium for the 1,337 convicts currently on death row.
The task force’s decision would be submitted to the cabinet for approval and to pass amendments at the Third Meeting of the Fifth Term of the 14th Parliament in the Dewan Rakyat.
The first reading of the bill is expected on October 4 and the second on November 22. – Bernama, September 13, 2022
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