Law on revision of death sentences and life imprisonment comes into force on Sept 12

PUTRAJAYA: The Revision of Sentence of Death and Imprisonment for Natural Life (Temporary Jurisdiction of the Federal Court) Act 2023 or Act 847 will come into force on Tuesday (Sept 12).

This follows the commencement of the Abolition of the Mandatory Death Penalty Act 2023 (Act 846) on July 4.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said the Cabinet had on Aug 30 agreed with the mechanism of court proceedings in relation to the revision of mandatory death sentences and life imprisonment as proposed after an engagement with stakeholders.

"The implementation of the handling mechanism of court proceedings will allow all 1,020 prisoners who have been sentenced to mandatory death and life imprisonment, to file an application in court to review their respective sentences," she said in a statement on Monday (Sept 11).

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She said considerations that take priority in the implementation mechanism will include factors like prisoner age, health status and sentence duration.

She said the unity government will – through this agreed mechanism – see that prisoners under mandatory death sentences who cannot afford counsel for the revision can seek legal representation through court-assigned lawyers.

"Those sentenced to life imprisonment can get (help) from the National Legal Aid Foundation," she added.

She said both forms of assistance reflected the government's stance of guaranteeing access to justice and maintaining the principle of equality for all Malaysians.

She said the enforcement of Act 847 also showed the government's commitment to promoting and protecting universal human rights, and showed that Malaysia held firmly to the principle of restorative justice.

"In fact, this also proves the concern of the unity government in giving a second chance to prisoners sentenced to death and life imprisonment to return to society and their families as well as (for) their survival as ordinary people," she said.