ALL death-row prisoners convicted of drug trafficking who applied for sentence reviews have obtained reductions in their sentences, according to Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh, who says Malaysia should consider abolishing the death penalty for offences other than murder.
Ramkarpal said the outcome of the review process following the 2023 reforms showed there was scope for the government to consider taking the further step of removing capital punishment for non-murder offences.
He said about 1,021 applications for death sentence reviews had been filed since the reforms were introduced, with most death sentences for offences other than murder reduced to prison terms of between 30 and 40 years.
He added that most cases in which the death penalty remained involved particularly brutal crimes.
“I believe abolishing the death penalty for offences other than murder could be accepted,” he said at a seminar on the abolition of the death penalty in Asia organised by Monash University.
“Perhaps this is something that should be examined and reviewed. However, efforts must also be made to convince the stakeholders directly involved in this matter.”
Malaysia introduced legal reforms in 2023 that abolished the mandatory death penalty for certain offences, allowing courts greater discretion in sentencing.
Ramkarpal said one of the key arguments in the debate over mandatory capital punishment had been whether it effectively deterred crime, particularly drug trafficking.
He said figures examined following the introduction of mandatory death sentences for drug trafficking in the early 1980s did not indicate a significant change, with the offence continuing to occur over subsequent decades.
He also called for a future review of whipping, which was retained under the 2023 amendments as a compromise to secure the passage of the legislation.
“These issues are still worth considering, including the possibility of abolishing whipping in the future,” he said. - October 26, 2026
