Families want killers hanged

PUTRAJAYA: Tan Siew Lin (pic) says she will not rest until her beloved daughter’s murderer and rapist is executed.

Her daughter Annie Kok was a victim of serial killer Rabidin Satir, infamously known as “Rambo Bentong” who has been sentenced to death for his crimes.

However, if the government proceeds with its plan to abolish the mandatory death penalty, Tan’s daughter’s killer will be spared the gallows.

“He must be hanged. I want him to die. I will only be at peace once I know the killer has been hanged.

“Until today, I still remember my dear Annie. Sometimes I cry alone in the bathroom. Every June on the sixth, which is her birthday, I will feel sad thinking of her, ” said an emotional Tan at a press conference at the Legal Affairs Division here.

Tan, 57, was among several families of murdered victims who had come before the select committee that was set up to study and advise the government on replacing the mandatory death sentence.

The nine-man panel is chaired by ex-Chief Justice of Malaysia Tan Sri Richard Malanjum.

Annie’s stepfather Sew Kok Wee, 63, said she would have been 28 years old this year.

“She would probably follow in the footsteps of her elder sister and become a teacher today.

“She may be my stepdaughter, but her death pains me too. If the killer is not hanged, there will be no closure and we will never be at peace, ” said Sew.

Christine Teng, a lawyer representing the families, said the select committee was merely doing lip service by calling up the victims’ families for a meeting.

“The families feel that the committee has already made its mind up, that they want to go ahead with abolishing the mandatory death sentence, ” she said.

“We have been excluded from exchanges with the government and also blocked from going into Parliament to submit our petition.”

Philanthropist Tan Sri Robert Phang, who was also at the press conference, urged the government to call for a public referendum to decide on whether the mandatory death penalty should be abolished.

“I am sure if a referendum is called, more people would vote against the abolition, ” he said.

“The government should not turn Malaysia into a haven for criminals to get away with their crime.”

The government had announced plans to abolish the mandatory death sentence for 11 offences – nine under the Penal Code and two under the Firearms (Increased Penalties) Act 1971.