KUALA LUMPUR – Calls to abolish capital punishment are renewed today in conjunction with the World Day Against the Death Penalty.
In a statement, Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) urges Putrajaya to release the report of the Special Committee to Review Alternative Sentences to the Mandatory Death Penalty and its recommendations.
“The committee appointed by the late Datuk Liew Vui Keong has completed its report and submitted it to the previous government.
“It is Suhakam’s view that the recommendations and transitionary measures for current death row prisoners, should be made public, allowing for legislators, policymakers and the society to undertake the needful to expedite the abolishment of the death penalty in Malaysia.
“Suhakam encourages the initiative announced by the government in 2020, to set up a law reform commission to study existing laws as well as sentencing procedures and if found to be outdated or archaic, to recommend for the necessary amendments or repeals and enabling Malaysia to be in line with international human rights standards.”
The commission also reiterated its call for the total abolition of the death penalty in the country, in line with the belief in a person’s fundamental right to life.
“In 2020, the Malaysia was among 120 UN (United Nations) member states, which voted in support of the UN General Assembly’s resolution regarding the moratorium on the use of the death penalty.
“It is important to highlight that, the resolution recommended that states should guarantee the right to a fair trial, and to limit the imposition of the death penalty to the most serious crimes, pending the abolition of the death penalty.”
Meanwhile, Batu Kawan MP Kasthuri Patto shared a similar sentiment, calling for the move to abolish mandatory capital punishment.
“Malaysia must not forget its commitment to put an end to the government being a state party to capital punishments.
“According to the Cornell Centre on the Death Penalty Worldwide, there are at least 800 women on death row and a parliamentary reply last year recorded 129 women on death row in Malaysian prisons. This translates to 16% of the global number of women on death row. Certainly not a figure Malaysians should be proud of.”
She added that Malaysia remains one of the few countries among the 51 that still believes that executing people will cause crime rates to reduce, to act as a deterrent or worse, for justice to be served.
“Over the years the numbers of men and women on death row in Malaysia have increased and show no signs of a reduction and crime rates still remain at a high.
“A seat at the United Nations Human Rights Council must be met with sincere efforts and resolutions back home to ensure that human rights, including the right to life, are preserved.” – The Vibes, October 10, 2021
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