THE family of Malaysian death row inmate Pannir Selvam Pranthaman has claimed that the alleged mastermind behind the drug case that led to his conviction has been arrested by Malaysian police, sparking renewed calls for his execution to be halted.
According to his sister Angelia Pranthaman, officers from Bukit Aman recently visited Changi Prison in Singapore to interview Pannir, who is scheduled to be executed in the early hours of Wednesday, 8 October 2025.
Speaking to the media after a press conference at Parliament, Angelia said the interview with Malaysian police on 27 September came after sustained pressure from activists and the family to expose an international drug syndicate they say used her brother as a pawn.
“My brother has repeatedly provided the names of those responsible to the authorities, but no meaningful action was taken. We believe that only now, with stronger pressure and the urgency of the situation, there has been some progress in the case,” she said.
She added that her brother, 38, had become a committed advocate against drug trafficking from inside prison, working on awareness efforts including poetry, songwriting, and educational campaigns.
“What happened to my brother could happen to others. These cartels do not stop with one victim. We want Malaysians, especially youth, to be more alert and not fall into their traps,” she said, urging the public to speak up and report any knowledge of such syndicates to the authorities.
Pannir was convicted in 2017 for importing 33.34 grams of diamorphine into Singapore. His legal team has filed a request to defer the execution in light of what they describe as significant new developments.
Speaking at the same event, Member of Parliament for Bukit Gelugor, Ram Karpal Singh, warned that carrying out the execution before investigations are concluded could empower cross-border trafficking syndicates.
“A senior team from Bukit Aman interviewed Pannir for nearly three hours. During that session, he provided information on individuals believed to have handed him the drugs in Malaysia,” Ram Karpal said, adding that Malaysian police have now opened an active investigation.
“There is a reasonable likelihood that Pannir’s information could lead to prosecutions. Should that happen, he would be a key witness in a case that could dismantle a major syndicate,” said Ram, who is also a lawyer.
He stressed that executing Pannir before the investigation is completed would effectively silence a crucial witness and allow syndicate leaders to remain at large.
“In less than 48 hours before the execution is scheduled, we urge the Home Minister, Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, to confirm the status of this investigation,” he said.
Ram also appealed to the Singaporean government to consider delaying the execution in the interest of justice, stating that a full investigation cannot reasonably be completed within days of Pannir’s formal statement being recorded.
Lawyers representing Pannir in Malaysia have reportedly submitted a letter to the Criminal Investigation Department at Bukit Aman requesting an official update on the case.
Advocates argue that Pannir’s cooperation may prove critical in dismantling a trafficking network that preys on vulnerable individuals and poses an ongoing threat to both Malaysia and Singapore. - October 6, 2025
