Killer may escape death penalty

THE suspect involved in the murder of 11-month-old Nur Muazara Ulfa Mohammad Zainal may escape the gallows – even if he is convicted – owing to the moratorium on the death penalty.

“The punishment of death by hanging, under Section 302 of the Penal Code, is one of the laws which is to be abolished,” Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Liew Vui Keong said during Minister’s Question Time.

“This was decided by the Cabinet on Oct 10,” he added.

Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan (PAS-Kota Baru) asked the minister in charge of laws if the death penalty would be abolished for robbery-murder, rape-murder and murder of infants.

Liew said the death penalty for murder was one of 32 that the government aimed to abolish.

However, Liew said the Cabinet papers on the abolishment had been sent to the relevant ministries for feedback before a “final decision” was made.

Earlier, Liew told lawmakers that the investigation papers involving Nur Muazara’s murder would be submitted to the public prosecutor’s office for a decision against the suspect.

Dr Kevin Yii Lee Weun (Pakatan-Bandar Kuching) asked Liew if an exception would be made against imposing the death penalty in the girl’s case.

She is alleged to have been sexually abused prior to her death.

“This issue is being hotly debated and has courted controversy.

“While it is a good policy to abolish the death penalty, it should take into account the situation and the people’s grouses,” Dr Yii said.

He suggested the setting up of a Parliament Special Select Committee to engage relevant stakeholders.

To this, Liew said the proposal would be considered.

Besides Dr Yii, calls for the select committee were previously made by Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong (BN-Ayer Hitam) and Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man (PAS-Kubang Kerian).

On Sunday, Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh, who has been vocal over the abolishment, said the death penalty should be allowed in murder cases involving children.

Nur Muazara died on Friday after spending two days at Serdang Hospital.

The post-mortem found the cause of death to be due to blunt force trauma to the head.

There were also tears on her hymen.

A babysitter and her husband have been arrested.