932 drug offenders sentenced to death
SANDAKAN: A total of 932 prisoners have been sentenced to death by courts under Section 39 (B) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 up to October 11, 2018, based on records from the Prisons Department.
However, according to Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law) Datuk Liew Vui Keong, there was no death punishment conducted since 2014 under the act.
He said that the prisoners were still waiting for their punishment because of Moratorium and because there was no death punishment warrant issued by the Prisons Department to carry out the punishment.
“On October 10, I have announced that the Government has decided to the abolish death sentence as a punishment, including under Section 39 (B) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
“The bill to abolish death sentence as a punishment will be presented in the Parliament after the memorandum is approved by the Cabinet,” he said, adding that there are 17 more offences that carry the capital punishment.
He added that under the bill, the death punishment will be replaced with minimum 30 years of imprisonment.
Liew, who is also Batu Sapi member of parliament, said this in his speech which was read by his political secretary, Martin Tommy.
“I have asked the Appeal Board to consider postponing the death sentence of prisoners who are on death row. Currently, there are 1,267 prisoners who were sentenced to death who are still waiting for their punishment.
“Based on Article 42 of the Federal Constitution, the Appeal Board has the power to give appeal, and postpone punishment for offenders that have gone through court procedures, without affecting any provision of Federal law.
“The Appeal Board could consider releasing prisoners who have been waiting for more than 20 years based on situation,” he said.
His speech was read during the launching ceremony of Community Empowerment, Community Combat DAPS (CCD) programme organised by the National AntiDrugs Agency (AADK) Sandakan at Piazza Harbour Mall here yesterday.
The main objective of the programme was to eradicate drug abuse by creating awareness and providing knowledge and understanding on the danger of drugs to the community.
He said that AADK must stay proactive in providing information and educate the local community, especially the grassroot leaders as a way to increase their effort in eradicating drug abuse cases.
“The responsibility to fight against drugs must not be put on the shoulders of the government or AADK alone, but all parties have to play their part and cooperate, especially non-government organisations, private sector and local grassroot leaders.
“Community leaders also need to step up their effort in guiding drug addicts in their community to rehabilitation programme,” he said. Also present at the launching ceremony were AADK Sandakan Chief Officer Aisyah Abdul Karim; Penyelaras Bersama Program event coordinator Jafar Mustapa as well as Batu Sapi Head of Communication Officer, Yap Mah Chun.