QuickCheck: Is Malaysia doing away with the mandatory death penalty?

THERE have been numerous calls for the mandatory death penalty in Malaysia to be abolished.

In January, it was reported that the government would decide on recommendations by a committee chaired by former chief justice Tan Sri Richard Malanjum, with the report to be brought to the Cabinet.

The committee's report was presented to the Cabinet on Wednesday (June 8) and the government agreed to abolish the mandatory death penalty, with a substitute sentence imposed at the discretion of the courts. Is this true?

VERDICT:

TRUE

On Friday (June 10), de facto law minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar issued a statement saying that the government had agreed to abolish the mandatory death penalty.

At present, the death sentence is handed down for 33 offences in Malaysia, including murder, drug trafficking, kidnapping, possession of firearms and terrorism, 11 of which have mandatory death sentences.

According to Wan Junaidi, the Cabinet has agreed for further study of the proposed substitute sentence.

He said it would be conducted in collaboration with the Attorney General's Chambers, the Legal Affairs Division of the Prime Minister's Department, and other interested ministries or departments.

References:

1. https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2022/06/10/govt-agrees-to-abolish-mandatory-death-penalty

2. https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2022/06/10/act-fast-to-stop-mandatory-death-penalty-say-groups