Go further, Malaysia, abolish capital punishment entirely

THE Malaysian Bar wholeheartedly welcomes the announcement on June 10 by Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law), that the Cabinet has agreed to replace the mandatory death penalty in Malaysia. This will essentially give judges discretion in sentencing – correctly so, as sentencing powers should always remain within the unfettered domain of the judiciary.

The Malaysian Bar looks forward to the conclusion of a study to be carried out on the proposed substitute sentences for 11 offences carrying the mandatory death penalty, and seeing relevant legislative reforms being tabled and passed by both Houses of Parliament in the Parliamentary session beginning on July 18.