Law to abolish mandatory death penalty takes effect on July 4

KUALA LUMPUR: The Abolition of the Mandatory Death Penalty Act 2023 (Act 846) will come into force tomorrow (July 4).

According to the Federal Government Gazette dated June 30 published by the Attorney General’s Chambers, the date, which the Act comes into operation, was fixed by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.

"In exercise of the powers conferred by subsection 1(2) of the Abolition of Mandatory Death Penalty Act 2023 [Act 846], the minister selects July 4, 2023 as the date on which the Act comes into operation,” the gazette stated.

On April 3, the Dewan Rakyat passed the Act, which aims to abolish the mandatory death penalty, to vary the sentence relating to imprisonment for natural life and whipping.

Under the Act, the court now has the discretion to impose the death penalty or imprisonment for a period of not less than 30 years, but not exceeding 40 years, and if not sentenced to death, shall also be punished with whipping of not less than 12 strokes. – Bernama