M Update, 15/2/2019 – The Cabinet will make a final decision on whether to bring the abolition of the mandatory death sentence to Parliament next month, says Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Liew Vui Keong. The government first made the suggestion to abolish the mandatory death sentence on Oct 10 last year.
Following this, Liew – the de facto Law Minister – has met with relatives of victims and death row inmates, as well as people from civil society and non-governmental organisations.
“We have taken everything into consideration for the Cabinet to decide on the matter. If the Cabinet agrees to it, then it will be brought to Parliament in March,” he said.
The next parliamentary sitting will take place from March 11 to April 11.
The death penalty involves 33 offences provided for under eight acts of law, including Section 302 of the Penal Code which deals with murder. At present, there are some 1,200 people on death row for crimes including murder, kidnapping and drug trafficking.
Sources : The Star Online
