30 years’ jail to replace death penalty

DEATH row inmates, whose sentences have been commuted to 30 years life imprisonment, will have to serve out their full jail term, says Datuk Liew Vui Keong.

“There will be no retrospective effect for those serving their sentences.

“Their jail term will run from the date the pardons board commutes their death sentences to life imprisonment,” said the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department when answering a supplementary question by Kasthuriraani Patto (Pakatan-Batu Kawan) during Minister’s Question Time yesterday.

Besides the full jail term, he said there would be instances where the convicts would end up spending the rest of their natural lives behind bars.

Earlier to a question by Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong (BN-Ayer Hitam), Liew said a study titled “Death Penalty in Malaysia and the Way Forward” was carried out by the Attorney General’s Chambers.

He said the study took several factors into consideration and recommended that the death penalty in Malaysia to be abolished altogether.

Liew said the study noted that there was no proof to show the death penalty served as an “effective deterrent”.

He said it also found there was a risk of an innocent suspect being sent to the gallows due to a wrongful conviction.

“There are instances of those convicted with murder based on false testimonies from key witnesses.

“Although the conviction may be set aside, the fact is the conviction could have led to the death penalty,” he said.

Liew reiterated the government’s commitment to abolish the death penalty was in line with Pakatan Harapan election manifesto.

At present, he said there were 32 laws that carried the death penalty, of which 12 were mandatory sentences.