THE proposal for the total abolition of the death penalty will undergo a more detailed study starting January next year, taking into account public interest, justice for victims and human rights principles, says M. Kulasegaran.
In this regard, he said the government is forming a Policy and Direction Review Working Group on the Death Penalty in Malaysia, which will collaborate with the Malaysian Law Reform Committee (CLRC) in carrying out this initiative.
“The study is expected to begin in January 2026 and is planned to run for a period of four months.
“However, this period may be extended by the government if necessary to ensure that the study is comprehensive,” the Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department told Ram Karpal Singh (PH-Bukit Gelugor) during Question Time.
Ram Karpal had asked the government to state whether it has any plans for a total abolition of the death penalty and whether appropriate studies will be conducted for this purpose.
Kulasegaran said the move to establish the special task force was a continuation of the legal reforms implemented through the Abolition of Mandatory Death Penalty Act 2023 (Act 846), which abolished the mandatory death penalty for 11 criminal offences and introduced judicial discretion in imposing the death penalty or a prison sentence of 30 to 40 years.
He said the working group will include all stakeholders from those in the justice system, including representatives from the government, legal bodies, academic experts in criminal law, as well as non-governmental organisations.
“The main objective of this study is to ensure that any government decision regarding the status of the death penalty in the country is made based on solid justification through an evidence-based approach and after hearing the views and arguments of all relevant stakeholders,” he added.
According to the deputy minister, the study will include, among others, a doctrinal review of the death penalty from all aspects, including at the international level.
It will include holistic engagement sessions with national and international criminal law experts, families of victims, families of death row inmates and other relevant stakeholders.
Kulasegaran said based on data from the Prisons Department, there are a total of 97 individuals who have been sentenced to death as of Nov 11.
This figure included 38 individuals awaiting appeal in the Court of Appeal, nine individuals awaiting appeal in the Federal Court and 50 individuals who have gone through all levels of appeal and may submit a Pardon application.
