Minimum 30 years’ jail to replace death penalty

SANDAKAN: The death penalty will be replaced with a minimum 30 years behind bars, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law) Datuk Liew Vui Keong.

Lawmakers are looking at tweaking Section 39 (B) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, where a convicted offender is subject to the mandatory death sentence, as well as 17 other criminal offences that impose the same sentence.

These offences include waging war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, terrorism, murder, attempted murder during a life imprisonment, killing victims during kidnapping, possessing and using firearms, as well as rape leading to death and rape of minors.

Liew’s speech at the Community Combat-DAPS (CCD) programme here yesterday was read by his political secretary, Martin Tommy.

Liew said based on the Prison Department’s record, until Oct 11, there were 932 prisoners convicted or sentenced to death under Section 39 (B) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.

However, he said, since 2014 until the present, no execution had taken place of those waiting in the death row.

He said execution of those condemned was pending due to the moratorium imposed on the death sentence as well as no execution warrant being issued by the Prisons Department.

“However, on Oct 10, I had announced on behalf of the government that all offences involving the death penalty, including Section 39 (B) of the Dangerous Drugs Act, will be repealed and the (death) sentence should not be enforced.

“The bill to repeal (death sentence) will be tabled in Parliament after the memorandum on the matter is approved by the cabinet,” he said.

Liew, who is Batu Sapi member of parliament, called on the Pardons Board to consider suspending the death sentence on those convicted and facing execution.

He said pursuant to Article 42 of the Federal Constitution, the Pardons Board had the authority to grant a pardon, delay the execution of the death sentence in respect of any offence which had been tried by the court without compromising any legal provisions of federal laws.

“The Pardons Board may also consider releasing prisoners who had been waiting for more than 20 years (for the execution of the death sentence) depending on the situation.”

He said to date, the number of prisoners facing the death penalty for committing an offence under Section 39 (B) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 stood at 1,267.