AI claims 2 persons secretly executed in Malaysia in 2013? What is the source of this information?

Amnesty International claims in its Amnesty International's Death Sentences and Executions 2013 report that 2 persons were executed in Malaysia in 2013, but alas after perusing the said report, I saw no details as to who was executed or the source AI based in making this claim. Obviously, the advocates for the abolition of the Death Penalty in Malaysia, including the Malaysian Bar, is hearing this for the very first time. Such information or 'fact', when known should be speedily disseminated - not be delayed until a REPORT is published.

If the Malaysian Bar, for example, had been aware of this alleged 'secret executions', there would have been a strong response...and maybe even a strongly worded Resolution passed at the recent Malaysian Bar AGM in March. Likewise, there would have been strong reaction from about 30 civil society groups and trade unions that have called for the abolition of the Death Penalty in Malaysia.

If what AI is saying is true, that a person was executed for 'drug trafficking', we in Malaysia will even be more angry given the popular sentiment and even government indication that the mandatory death penalty(or death penalty) for drug offences will be abolished.

See earlier posts:-

Shocking attempt by Malaysia to hang Philip Michael discovered at the last minute and stopped

Osariakhi Ernest Obayangbon (aka Philip Michael), convicted for murder, to be hanged on 14/3/2014 - Execution stayed & the Malaysian Minister and Attorney General helped in getting the execution stayed.

Chandran Paskaran saved at the last minute from being hanged to death

Chandran s/o Paskaran, convicted for murder was to hang on 7 February 2014 - the swift intervention by civil society groups led to the Sultan of Johore granting a stay of execution of the death sentence

It seems obvious that the Malaysian government and even the royalty will act swiftly to stop any executions - and, as such I have serious doubts about Amnesty International's claim that 2 were executed in Malaysia in 2013.

I have written to AI Malaysia asking for verification of this claim, and would inform the readers of this Blog if it TRUE or NOT the allegation that Malaysia executed 2 persons in 2013.

I believe that Malaysia is really serious about abolishing the death penalty, and in the meantime has stopped executing people. This is consistent with the increase in numbers of persons in death row, which at present may be about 900. 

 

 

Malaysia urged to ‘kill’ death penalty

Friday, 28 March 2014 08:57am

by Lee Hooi Boon KUALA LUMPUR: With 992 prisoners in death row in Malaysia, Amnesty International Malaysia today called on the federal government to do away with the death sentence. Its executive director Shamini Darshni said that continuing to carry out the executions in secrecy and refusing to divulge information about the executions was in violation of international standards. "Only one in 10 countries worldwide used the death penalty last year. It is shameful that Malaysia is still part of this isolated group," she told a press conference here to release Amnesty International's Death Sentences and Executions 2013 report. She said that according to the report, there was a notable rise in death sentences imposed in Malaysia last year compared to the previous year. In 2012, there were 60 death sentences handed down by the courts, while last year, the figure was 76, of which 37 were foreigners and 10 women, she said. "At the same time, two people were put to death last year, one for murder and one for drug trafficking," she said, adding that both executions were carried out in secrecy. She said the authorities did not make public the imminent executions and no post-mortem information was released. She said that what made the executions even more disappointing is that there is actually genuine progress being made towards abolishing the death penalty in Malaysia. This is in reference to the government's commitment in 2012 to review the law on mandatory death sentence for drug offences, she said. - The Sun Daily, 27/3/2014, Malaysia urged to ‘kill’ death penalty      Malaysia Amnesty International raps Putrajaya for carrying out executions in secrecy BY LEE SHI-IAN March 27, 2014 Amnesty International Malaysia today criticised Malaysia for continuing to carry out executions in secrecy, in direct violation of international standards. "Only one in 10 countries worldwide used the death penalty last year," said executive director Shamini Darshni. "It is shameful that Malaysia is still part of this isolated group where judicial systems are used to kill people." She said that there were at least two executions which were known to have taken place in Malaysia last year. One person was executed for murder while the other was for drug trafficking. Both executions were shrouded in secrecy. "Authorities did not make any public announcement about the imminent executions nor were there any posthumous information about the executed individuals," Shamini said. There was also a notable rise in death sentences imposed last year compared to 2012, Amnesty International found in its annual review of the death penalty globally. "Last year's executions were disappointing because there had been genuine progress towards abolishing the death penalty in Malaysia," Shamini said. She urged Putrajaya to review the law on mandatory death sentences for drug offences, as had been promised in 2012. "The secrecy around executions in Malaysia has allowed Putrajaya to effectively kill individuals without public scrutiny," she said. "Transparency is a safeguard of due process. But Putrajaya seems to be trying to hide its human rights abuses from the world." Earlier this month, Putrajaya rejected all recommendations to establish a moratorium on executions and abolish the death penalty. The recommendations were made by fellow United Nations member states at the UN Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review. Amnesty International today published its report on the death penalty worldwide in 2013. At least 778 executions were known to have been carried out in 22 countries in 2013, compared to 682 and 22 respectively in 2012. These numbers, however, do not include China, where Amnesty International believes thousands were executed – more than the rest of the world put together. But with executions treated as a state secret, the correct figure is impossible to determine. The alarming rise in executions in 2013 was mainly due to Iran and Iraq, where authorities markedly stepped up their use of the death penalty. The top five executing countries in 2013 were China (thousands), Iran (369), Iraq (169), Saudi Arabia (79) and the USA (39). Despite the setbacks in 2013, there has been a steady decline in the number of countries using the death penalty over the last 20 years, and there was progress in all regions last year. Many countries who executed in 2012 did not implement any death sentences last year, including Gambia, the United Arab Emirates and Pakistan, where authorities again suspended the use of the death penalty, the report said. Belarus also refrained from executions, meaning Europe and Central Asia was execution-free for the first time since 2009. Twenty-five years ago, 37 countries actively implemented the death penalty. This number had fallen to 25 by 2004 and was at 22 last year, said the report. Only nine of the world’s countries have executed year on year for the past five years. Methods of executions in 2013 included beheading, electrocution, firing squad, hanging and lethal injection. Public executions took place in Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia and Somalia. People faced the death penalty for a range of non-lethal crimes including robbery, drug-related and economic offences, as well as acts that should not be a crime at all such as “adultery” or “blasphemy”. The report also said many countries used vaguely worded political “crime” to put real or perceived dissidents to death. – March 27, 2014, Malaysian Insider, Amnesty International raps Putrajaya for carrying out executions in secrecy

Shocking attempt by Malaysia to hang Philip Michael discovered at the last minute and stopped

Press Release   

 

The Malaysian Bar Commends Swift Action by the Government in Stay of Execution of Death Sentence on Osariakhi Ernest Obayangbon

The Malaysian Bar is heartened by, and welcomes, the stay of execution of the death penalty on Osariakhi Ernest Obayangbon (aka Philip Michael), originally scheduled for 6:00 am today.  

The Malaysian Bar commends the swift action of the Government, and in particular the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, YB Puan Hajah Nancy Shukri, and the Honourable Attorney General, Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail, in obtaining a stay of the execution.  

The execution of a criminal, albeit for a heinous crime, is not so much about his crime, but is about, and reflective of, our own humanity.

Osariakhi Ernest Obayangbon is reported to have been convicted on a charge of murder, and has been on death row for 18 years.  He is said to be suffering from mental illness, namely schizophrenia.  He apparently did not apply for clemency, possibly because he was unable to make proper decisions as a result of his mental illness.  

Although it is reported that his mental illness developed after the commission of the crime, it is nevertheless unnecessary and unmerciful to kill a mentally ill person who has already been in jail for 18 years.  We ask that his death sentence be commuted to one of life imprisonment.

The Malaysian Bar advocates the abolition of the death penalty, in the belief that every individual has an inherent right to life.  This right is absolute, universal and inalienable, irrespective of any crimes that may have been committed.  The death penalty has no place in a society that values human life, justice and mercy.  

We understand that the Government is currently looking into law reforms in respect of the mandatory death penalty, with a view to its possible abolition or the reintroduction of a discretionary death penalty.  In light of such review, the Government should, in the interest of justice, implement and announce an immediate official moratorium on any and all executions of the death sentence.

The Malaysian Bar reiterates its call on the Malaysian Government to abolish the death penalty without delay.  Those who have been sentenced with the death penalty should all be resentenced.  

 

Christopher Leong

President

Malaysian Bar

14 March 2014

 

Source: Malaysian Bar Website

The couple have been held since December 18th, 2013. Screenshot: Facebook

Malaysians charged in Sweden for hitting kids

Published: 10 Feb 2014 12:01 GMT+01:00
Updated: 10 Feb 2014 12:01 GMT+01:00

A Malaysian couple accused of hitting their children in Sweden have been formally indicted in a case that has caused outrage back in Malaysia. If convicted, they face up to ten years in prison.

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• Malaysian fury after slap parents are held (01 Feb 14)
• Malaysians arrested for hitting kids in Sweden (23 Jan 14)

 

The parents were arrested in December after being accused of hitting their children for not performing their prayers. They have been since been held on remand while their four children were taken by social services. 

 

On Monday, the prosecutor filed charges of gross violation of their children's integrity (grov fridskränkning) and for assault. 

 

"In my judgement, the information provided by the children via remote video interrogation is trustworthy," prosecutor Anna Arnell said in a statement. 

 

"Together with other accompanying proof, such as witnesses and items that have been seized from the home, there are good grounds for the indictment."

 

The news came as a welcome relief to the mother of the children, who has struggled with life in a remand centre as the investigation proceeded.

 

"My client is relieved that the prosecutor has finally brought charges, as she will now be able to prove her innocence," Kristofer Stahre, the mother's defence lawyer, told The Local.

 

"She has been waiting a long time for this, it's been a tough time for her in jail, but now she is seeing the light at the end of the tunnel."

 

The trial is set to begin on February 18th and is expected to last ten days.

 

"It's difficult to speculate what will happen, but of course I hope my client will be freed. She hasn't done any of the things of which she's been accused," Stahre added.

 

The couple has lived in Sweden for three years. The father, Azizul Raheem Awalludin, works for Tourism Malaysia in Stockholm and has worked for his country's tourism ministry since 2000. His wife, Shalwati Nurshal, is a secondary school teacher on unpaid leave. The Swedish foreign ministry said neither Awalludin nor Nurshal are registered as diplomats, leading prosecutors to conclude that diplomatic immunity does not apply in the case.

 

The case has stirred a heated reaction in Malaysia, where the four children were returned in early February. A Facebook group lobbying for the parents' return to Malaysia has almost 20,000 followers, and many took to Twitter to share their outrage alongside the hashtag #SwedenLetThemGo.

 

Kristofer Stahre has said the situation was the result of a "clash of cultures". Sweden was the first country in the world to outlaw corporal punishment back in 1979. In Muslim-majority Malaysia, corporal punishment is allowed in schools.

 

The case is not the first time a diplomat from abroad has got caught on the wrong side of the saw. In 2011, an Italian politician was convicted for assaulting his son during a Stockholm holiday, in a case that stirred heated debate in Sweden and Italy.

Oliver Gee - The Local, Sweden's News in English, 10/2/2014, Malaysians charged in Sweden for hitting kids

Chandran Paskaran saved at the last minute from being hanged to death

Chandran Paskaran was almost hanged to death in Malaysia on 7/2/2014 - but this time, we found out about this just before the carrying out of the death penalty, and many acted swiftly pleading for a stop of the hanging. And, the Sultan of Johor responded and ordered a stay of execution ...

Yes, the Sultan and the King do have the power to stay execution and even commute death sentences... until Malaysia formally abolishes the death penalty ...and the mandatory death penalty from its laws. Mandatory death penalty gives judges no choice but to sentence persons to death when they are found guilty  of the offence - irrespective of the circumstances, and as such the first to go must be the mandatory death penalty returning to judges the discretion when it comes to sentencing. But more importantly, death penalty itself must be abolished...

Sultan intervenes, inmate escapes gallows

 

Chandran Paskaran was scheduled to be executed today. But his death sentence has been postponed following intervention from the Sultan of Johor.

According to his brother Thamotharan, the order came late last night.

"Our family is extremely happy with the news received at the last hour. Our deepest gratitude goes to the Sultan for intervening at the last moment," he was quoted as saying by online news portal Free Malaysia Today.

Chandran was convicted for a murder in 2003 and sentenced to death by the Johor Baru High Court in 2008.

However, Amnesty International Malaysia executive director Shamini Darshni said Chandran's life was still at risk and urged that his sentence be commuted immediately, as well as that of other death row inmates.

"We urge the Malaysian government to immediately halt all plans for executions, commute existing death sentences and put in place a moratorium on the use of the death penalty as a first step towards abolition," she added in a statement today.

Echoing Sahmini's statement, Human Rights Watch Asia division deputy director Phil Robertson said: "The Malaysian government should recognise that the death penalty is an irreversible, inherently cruel and unusual punishment that should be done away with once and for all."

"If Malaysia made a decision to abolish the death penalty, this would be greeted with significant support and applause at Malaysia's upcoming session at the UN Human Rights Council to discuss the results of last year's Universal Periodic Review session for the country," he added in a separate statement.

Meanwhile, the Malaysian Bar also welcomed the sultan's decision to spare Chandran’s life, and commended the prime minister and his government for their role in the matter.

Bar Council president Christopher Leong urged the government to now move ahead with its stated  aim, since 2010, to relook at the the mandatory death penalty, with a view to its possible abolition or the reintroduction of a discretionary death penalty.

“The Malaysian Bar reiterates its proposal to the Malaysian government to abolish the death penalty without delay. Those who have been sentenced with the mandatory death penalty should all be resentenced,” Leong said in a statement.

He noted that the matter was already under review by the Attorney-General’s Chambers. -Malaysiakini, 7/2/2014, Sultan intervenes, inmate escapes gallows

Press Release | The Malaysian Bar Welcomes Show of Mercy in Stay of Execution of Death Sentence

Friday, 07 February 2014 05:17pm

The Malaysian Bar is heartened by, and welcomes, the show of compassion and the swift intervention of the Duli Yang Maha Mulia Sultan of Johore, which resulted in the stay of execution of the death sentence on Chandran s/o Paskaran, scheduled for today.   The Bar also welcomes the chorus of voices of civil society actors that called for the execution to be stayed. In addition, the Bar commends the Prime Minister and his Government for their role in this matter.  The Bar notes that the Malaysian Government has since 2010 announced its willingness to relook at the mandatory death penalty, with a view to its possible abolition or the reintroduction of a discretionary death penalty.     At an event entitled “Dialogue with Members of Parliament on the Reintroduction of Discretionary Sentencing for Capital Punishment” held at Parliament on 14 November 2013, the Government and the Attorney General’s Chambers informed those present that they were in the midst of reviewing the mandatory death penalty. In light of such review, the authorities and the Government should, in the interests of justice, impose an immediate official moratorium on any and all executions of the death sentence.  The Malaysian Bar is of the view that the death penalty should be abolished, as every individual has an inherent right to life.  This right is absolute, universal and inalienable, irrespective of any crimes that may have been committed.  The death penalty has no place in a society that values human life, justice and mercy.   The Malaysian Bar reiterates its call on the Malaysian Government to abolish the death penalty without delay.  Those who have been sentenced with the mandatory death penalty should all be resentenced.     Christopher Leong President Malaysian Bar   7 February 2014

Source: Malaysian Bar Website

And, the statement of the Malaysian Bar the day before is as follows:-

 

Press Release | Justice Tempered with Mercy: Abolish the Death Penalty, and Commute Death Sentences to Life Imprisonment

 

The Malaysian Bar has just learnt that the authorities intend to carry out the death sentence on Chandran s/o Paskaran at the Kajang prison on 7 February 2014.  On 16 April 2008 Chandran s/o Paskaran was convicted of the offence of murder and sentenced to death under section 302 of the Penal Code.

The Malaysian Bar appeals to the authorities and the Government for clemency, and to stay the execution of Chandran s/o Paskaran.  The Malaysian Bar also appeals to the authorities and the Government to take appropriate steps to eventually commute his death sentence to one of life imprisonment.

In Malaysia, the death penalty is mandatory for persons convicted of murder, trafficking in narcotics of various specified amounts, and discharging a firearm in the commission of various specified crimes (even where no one is hurt).

The Malaysian Bar advocates for the abolition of the death penalty, in the belief that every individual has an inherent right to life.  This right is absolute, universal and inalienable, irrespective of any crimes that may have been committed.  The rationale for the abolition of the death penalty is made more compelling when we consider that:

(a) There is no empirical evidence to support the notion that the death penalty serves as an effective deterrent to the commission of crimes.  Arguably, there has been no significant reduction in the crimes for which the death penalty is currently mandatory.  This is particularly true of drug-related offences.  For instance, drug-related offences and addiction have been on the rise in Malaysia despite the 1983 amendment to the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which introduced the mandatory death penalty; and

(b) It is acknowledged that no criminal justice legal system in the world is foolproof, error-free or fail-safe.  In the instance of the death penalty, there is no opportunity to correct an error, as the execution of the death sentence is irreversible.  

There is no denying that guilty persons ought to receive punishment.  But that is not the same as saying that they therefore ought to be put to death.  Even in the case of a convicted murderer, the death penalty is a reflection of the notion that “an eye for an eye” provides the best form of justice, a concept that we should not embrace nor practise today, bearing in mind that at present there is no criminal justice system emplaced that is foolproof.

It is incongruous for Malaysia, as a civilised society, to condemn the barbarity of murder by responding with State-sanctioned taking of life.  The death penalty has no place in any society that values human life, justice and mercy.

The Malaysian Government has since 2010 announced its willingness to relook at the mandatory death penalty, with a view to its possible abolition or the reintroduction of a discretionary death penalty.  The then-de facto Minister for Law, Dato’ Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz, said that the Government would be in favour of abolishing the mandatory death penalty if a majority of Malaysians were in favour of it.

In July 2012, the Attorney General announced that the Attorney General’s Chambers was considering proposing an amendment to the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 to give judges the discretion not to impose the death sentence on drug couriers, commonly known as “drug mules”. The Attorney General’s Chambers was reportedly also considering a proposal that those on death row be resentenced.  

On 8 July 2013, the Malaysian Bar co-launched the results of a major survey of Malaysian citizens, carried out in November and December 2012 through face-to face interviews, by IPSOS Malaysia. The survey was commissioned by the Death Penalty Project, a leading international human rights organisation based in the United Kingdom, and analysed by Professor Roger Hood, Professor Emeritus of Criminology at the University of Oxford. 

The results of the survey showed that there was very little public support in Malaysia for the mandatory death penalty.  It showed that the majority of Malaysian citizens favoured a discretionary death penalty for murder, but the majority did not favour use of the death penalty at all, when presented with typical cases of drug trafficking and non-fatal firearms offences.

Given this, public opinion is not a barrier to the reform of the mandatory capital sentencing law for murder, or to its complete abolition for drug trafficking and non-fatal firearms offences.

At an event entitled “Dialogue with Members of Parliament on the Reintroduction of Discretionary Sentencing for Capital Punishment” held at Parliament on 14 November 2013, the Government and the Attorney General’s Chambers informed those present that they were in the midst of reviewing the mandatory death penalty.

In light of such review, the authorities and the Government should, in the interests of justice, impose an immediate official moratorium on any and all executions of the death sentence. There are currently about 900 persons on death row awaiting execution.  All of these sentences, including that of Chandran s/o Paskaran, should be stayed pending the results of the review on the mandatory death penalty.  It is unfair, unjust and ghastly to carry out the death sentence when there is currently a possibility of reform of the mandatory death penalty.

The Malaysian Bar reiterates its call on the Malaysian Government to abolish the death penalty without delay.  Those who have been sentenced with the mandatory death penalty should all be resentenced.  In the meantime, there must logically be an immediate moratorium on all executions.

 

Christopher Leong

President

Malaysian Bar

 

6 February 2014

 

Source: Malaysian Bar Website

 

 

Indonesia managed to commute death sentence for 162 persons, still 236 on death row outside Indonesia

This reports below just talks about Indonesian migrant workers  on death row outside Indonesia..

 Many Indonesians on death
row abroad for drug charges

Panca Nugraha, The Jakarta Post, Mataram | Archipelago | Tue, December 10 2013, 10:51 AM 

Hundreds of Indonesians are facing the death penalty abroad, with 80 percent of them related to drug charges and the rest connected to torture, murder and robbery.

“Currently there are 236 Indonesians who are facing the death sentences and 188 of them are related to drug abuse and trafficking,” the Foreign Ministry’s director for legal aid and protection of Indonesian nationals overseas, Tatang Budie Utama Razak, said Monday.

He was speaking at a coordination meeting on protection for Indonesian nationals and migrant workers (TKI) in eastern Indonesia. Representatives from regional administrations attended the meeting as well as those from various NGOs.

A similar meeting for western Indonesia will be held in Batam, Riau Islands, on Dec. 18.

Tatang said that Malaysia had the largest number of Indonesians on death row with 173, followed by Saudi Arabia (37), China (19), Singapore (4) and Brunei Darussalam, Iran and the United Arab Emirates with one each.

There are 120 drug-related cases in Malaysia while all the cases in China and Iran are drug-related. “Most of the drug cases in Malaysia are for marijuana smuggling,” Tatang said.

He said most of the Indonesians on death row had been used by international drug syndicates. They had been arrested at airports or other entry points carrying drugs for syndicates in bags, luggage or inside their bodies.

“The Indonesian smugglers did not use working visas but tourist visas to enter countries such as China,” he said.

Tatang added that the female Indonesians who had been used as mules by drug syndicates were often lured into it through new friends or chatting on the Internet.

Other than those on death row, Tatang said there were many other Indonesians imprisoned abroad on drug charges, in Europe, Latin America, Afghanistan and South Africa.

The Foreign Ministry is assisting suspects sentenced to death through Indonesian embassies or representative offices and local lawyers hired by the state.

“The advocacy conducted by the ministry is not merely to acquit them of all charges but also to guarantee their rights as Indonesians to get legal assistance and counselor access abroad,” Tatang said.

“But we are working hard so that they will not be executed.”

He added that since 2011 the Foreign Ministry had managed to commute 162 capital punishment cases.

An expert staffer to the foreign affairs minister, Muhammad Ibnu Said, said the coordination meeting for foreign nationals was held to increase synergy between the ministry and related regional administrations to protect Indonesian nationals and handle cases involving Indonesians abroad.

He said that the number of cases involving Indonesians and TKIs abroad showed a decreasing trend, from 38,880 cases in 2011 to 19,218 cases in 2012. As of September, there had been 12,967 cases in 2013.

He said most of the cases were dominated by TKIs who did not understand the regulations in host countries and who had incomplete working and immigration documents.

“Regional administrations play an important role in early prevention to at least reduce the cases by preparing TKI both in education and skills as well as preparing complete documents,” he said. - Jakarta Post, 10/12/2013, Many Indonesians on death row abroad for drug charges

265 migrant workers face death penalty

The Jakarta Post, Surabaya | National | Sat, December 28 2013, 5:56 PM 

As many as 265 Indonesian migrant workers in several countries, including China, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia, may face death penalty, an NGO activist has said.

“In addition to low wages and harsh labor conditions, the death penalty has also threatened our migrant workers,” Migrant Care executive director Anis Hidayah in Surabaya, East Java, on Friday, as quoted by Antara news agency. 

She said in Malaysia, 213 Indonesian migrant workers were facing legal problems.

“Seventy out of the total have been sentenced to death. In Saudi Arabia, nine migrant workers are already on death row awaiting execution while 33 cases are being processed,” said Anis.

She further explained that in China, nine Indonesian migrant workers had been given the death sentence that was final while 18 cases were still in progress.

“This is very alarming,” said Anis.

Up to now, many Indonesian migrant workers have been put to death in several countries, including Basri Masse who was executed in Malaysia. Another worker, Karno Marzuki, was executed in Malaysia on Sept.14, 1991 while Yanti Iriyanti was put to death in Saudi Arabia on Feb.12, 2008. Darman Agustiri was executed in Egypt in 2010, followed by Ruyati in Saudi Arabia on June 18, 2011.

Anis said what had happened to the workers could not be separated from various failures, such as illegal documents. 

“There have been 101,067 undocumented migrant workers who have registered for legalization. Only 17,306 of them have been able to obtain work documents and 6,700 others have been able to get exit permits,” said Anis.

Slow or hasty responses to the issue of migrant workers has aggravated the situation. This could be seen, for instance, in the government’s clumsiness in handling Ruyati’s death sentence, which they only responded to after she was executed. Indonesian overstayers in Saudi Arabia only after activists launched “Rp 1,000 Coins Movement” to tease authorities’ awkwardness in assisting the undocumented migrant workers return home.

“To minimize or prevent it from happening in the future, local administrations who send their people working abroad should take more active roles,” said Anis. (ebf) - The Jakarta Post, 28/12/2014, 265 migrant workers face death penalty

Gerakan lauuches campaign for the abolition of the death penalty - the 1st BN political party to do so

Gerakan moves to unite M'sians against death penalty

Susan Loone 2:14PM Dec 21, 2013

Gerakan is planning to launch a campaign to collect 100,000 signatures to call for the abolition of the death penalty in January.

The party's national legal and human rights bureau chief Baljit Singh said the call to abolish capital punishment in Malaysia cuts across the political divide.

"There are those in Gerakan who support the death penalty as there are some in Pakatan, too. But this issue cuts across borders, so let's work on it together," he told Malaysiakini.

Baljit added that Gerakan welcomes all parties and NGOs, covering all issues - whether social, economic, or political to join forces to get rid of this law.

It is learnt that Churches and Buddhist groups have indicated their interest in joining the campaign.

"This is one of Gerakan's effort to go back to the party's basic struggle. This issue will be brought to the prime minister and Parliament with the hope that it would be discussed and debate and eventually lead to the abolishment of the law," he said.

Penalty also comes under review

Baljit added that  while Gerakan calls for the law which he described as "cruel, inhuman and archaic", to be abolished,  the punishment under the law is also under review.

"We will study if the punishment is commensurate with the gravity of the crime. It is a degrading law which is against basic human rights, the right to life," he said.

At least 20 countries have put a lid on the death penalty while in Malaysia, the law is imposed for drugs trafficking, kidnapping, murder, possession of fire arms and waging war against the king.

Death could be by hanging, execution (shooting), electric chair and the administration of lethal injection.

Baljit said the arguments of those who support the law range from rehabilitation of the criminal being useless, that the public should not bear the cost of prisons, public safety, crime deterrent, retribution (an eye for an eye) and vengeance.

"Vengeance tops the list of reasons for supporting the death penalty. If it is a good deterrent, then why is it that those caught for drugs continue to rise?" He asked.

"On the other hand, there are concerns that people are wrongly convicted, there is also the religious and moral argument that we cannot put another human being to death (we are not God)," he added.

"We see in many cases that it is always the small fish (insignificant people) who get caught. It is always the drug mules like Malaysian Yong Vui Kong detained in Singapore and not the kingpins who faces the death penalty," he stressed.

"Also, there are incidences where those who commit lesser crime are dealt heavier penalties, instead of those who commit big crimes".

Baljit said Malaysia has yet to endorse a moratorium on the death penalty called by the United Nation General Assembly in 2007 and 2010.

"It is time Malaysia joined the moratorium," said Baljit. - Malaysiakini, 21/12/2013, Gerakan moves to unite M'sians against death penalty

Is it time to 'retire' the hangman? (fz.com)

Is it time to 'retire' the hangman?

Primary tabs

First Published: 7:01am, Nov 19, 2013

Last Updated: 12:09pm, Nov 19, 2013

 

Opinion

'The Writest Thing' by Mohsin Abdullah

 

REUTERS PIX

• 

"THE hangman and his assistant arrive outside the condemned man's cell about five minutes before the scheduled time for execution. The prisoner is handcuffed behind his back and a loose fitting hood is placed over his head.

 

"In an ideal world, the prisoner cooperated by walking to the large single trapdoor capable of accommodating three people at one time. Once positioned on the trapdoor, it was the hangman's job to pull the noose tight under the prisoner's left jawbone.

 

"For those whose legs did not have the strength to hold them in their final moments, a small two legged support would be offered to enable them to rest their bodyweight.

 

"The executioner's assistant pinioned the legs and then, following the command from the senior officer, the lever was pulled, plunging the prisoner (or prisoners) to an instant death into the pit below". 

 

Terrifying moments that one. It was an execution by hanging in Kuala Lumpur's Pudu Jail as described by veteran journalist Tim Donoghue in his well written biography of lawyer cum politician Karpal Singh.

 

The book is entitled 'Karpal Singh - The Tiger of Jelutong'. And in it Donoghue also wrote that "Karpal agrees with former Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke that hanging is barbaric" as the lawyer believes there are more humane way of doing it, if at all, executions need to be carried out.

 

Karpal, as Donoghue tells us, "knows as he has had to help more than 50 mainly condemned men and their families to get through the process".

 

And the veteran journalist went on to write "there is also the toll the death penalty takes on the family of the prisoner to be killed by the state. In Malaysia the lives of the condemned person's family are placed in limbo for ten years - the average length of time the court process take - and very often parents and siblings can think of little else but the welfare of their loved one as he or she slowly works their way through the legal system".

 

Needless to say it is not easy for anyone involved including the hangman who, in the words of Donoghue, "get absolutely no satisfaction out of having to execute a prisoner by hanging, no matter what crime they have committed".

 

Capital punishment in Malaysia applies to murder, drug trafficking, kidnapping, treason, waging war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. And recently - acts of terrorism.

 

And as far as drugs and possession of fire arms are concerned, it's the mandatory death sentence for those found guilty. Most of those sent to the gallows were drug traffickers - the "low ranking drug mules who are the easiest to apprehend", as said by former Bar Council president Lim Chee Wee.  Many agree to that. 

 

The Karpal biography tells us death penalty for drug trafficking became mandatory in  April 1983 and the Malaysian government then helmed by Datuk Seri (now Tun) Dr Mahathir Mohamad was praised in 1985 by the UN International Narcotics Control Board for its efforts to curb drug trafficking.

 

In his biography we are also told that Karpal "genuinely sympathised with his government in its stringent efforts to clamp down on the illegal drug trade but he did not see well published weekly hangings as the answer to the problem".

 

To him the mandatory death sentence was no deterrent. Obviously he's still holding on to that stand. As recent as last year, Karpal – in his capacity as MP for Bukit Gelugor – had  asked in parliament then Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, if the tough laws carrying capital punishment had been effective in reducing drug related crime.

 

Based on Hishamuddin's written reply, the mandatory death sentence has not stopped drug dealers.

 

Also last year, Datuk Seri Nazri Abdul Aziz then minister in the PM's department went on record to say the government was looking into the possibility of withdrawing mandatory death sentence of drug offences, replacing it with jail terms.

 

One of the main reasons, said Nazri, was there were close to 250 Malaysians arrested as drug mules and sentenced to death abroad.

 

"It is difficult to justify our appeal to these countries not to hang them when our own country has the mandatory death sentence," said Nazri as quoted in the media.

 

Now there is at least one Malaysian, arrested and sentenced to death abroad who have escaped the gallows. And it wasn't because of our appeals.

 

Yes, by now we all know of Yong Vui Kong, the Malaysian, who was spared the hangman's noose after being on death row in Singapore since 2009 for drug trafficking.

 

The Singapore government had last year announced changes to the mandatory death penalty, allowing death row inmates to be given a lighter sentence if they met certain conditions.

 

And Yong became the first "beneficiary" of the amendment. He now will serve a life prison sentence and given 15 strokes of the rotan. 

 

So based on what Singapore has done should Malaysia follow suit?

 

Yes, said DAP's Liew Chin Tong - pointing out that the Singapore court, in Yong's case, had acknowledged that "mandatory death sentence is considered a cruel, degrading and inhuman punishment" and as such "it is time this is also recognised by the Malaysian court". 

 

Liew wants the Malaysian government to emulate Singapore and amend our laws to allow discretionary sentencing in cases of mandatory death sentences with a long term view to abolish the death penalty.

 

In fact, in January this year, the Office for Human Development of the Kuala Lumpur Archdiocese had launched a signature campaign for the death penalty be repealed in Malaysia.

 

Anyway back to Liew, for now, he wants the government to make good "its promise of October 2012" referring to the remarks made by Nazri who was then de facto law minister. But a fellow Malaysian who goes by the name CG Tiong wrote a letter to The Star newspaper recently to say: 'Don't repeal mandatory death sentence'.

 

Tiong viewed the DAP man's call "a misplaced and misconstrued plea supposedly on humanity grounds".

 

As Tiong sees it, those sentenced to mandatory death are criminals who "have caused countless deaths and tremendous hardship on families of victims" - going to write "all the do gooders clamouring for the removal of mandatory death sentence are idealists and have never suffered as victims in the hands of criminals".

 

CG Tiong ended the letter by saying "don't let misplaced sympathy and misplaced humanity cloud our judgment".

 

So where do we go from here?

 

A classic case of "damned if you do, damned if you don't", perhaps? 

 

 

Mohsin Abdullah is a specialist writer at fz.com. He likes rojak. And nasi campur. And durians. Perhaps that’s why he writes about this, that and everything else. Pretty much rojak and nasi campur. As for his writings, well, they can be like durians. Aromatic and delicious to some people, smelly and off-putting to others. - fz.com, 19/11/2013, Is it time to 'retire' the hangman?

 

Bar and Suhakam want the Government to abolish the mandatory death penalty

Published: Sunday December 1, 2013 MYT 9:00:00 AM
Updated: Sunday December 1, 2013 MYT 9:17:41 AM

Malaysians believe in death penalty, but not willing to mete it out, survey shows

by shaila koshy

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians believe in the death penalty but do not want to impose it - even on perpetrators of the most serious crimes.

This seemingly contradictory attitude was among the findings of a recent study by the Death Penalty Project (DPP) on the mandatory death sentence in Malaysia for murder, drug trafficking and Firearms Act (Increased Penalties) Act offences.

According to the public opinion survey, Malaysians prefer incarceration, either jail without parole, or an indeterminate life sentence with consideration of parole, or a determinate period of years.

The Malaysian Bar and Suhakam want the Government to abolish the mandatory death penalty or, in the interim, give judges the discretion to impose capital punishment.

Suhakam chairman Tan Sri Hasmy Agam.

 

Bar president Christopher Leong and Suhakam chairman Tan Sri Hasmy Agam are making this call again in light of the survey findings and the high number of recommendations the Government received on the matter from United Nations member states on Oct 24 during its Universal Periodic Review (UPR) at the Human Rights Council (HRC). 

The Government has until March to tell HRC whether it will accept the recommendations. 

As at June 2013, a total of 964 Malaysians have been sentenced to death for crimes for murder, terrorism-related offences, drug trafficking, robbery with firearms and firearms possession, kidnapping, and treason.

While the number of firearms offences are increasing, Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation vice chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye had noted in July that the death sentence had not deterred the drug trade.

According to the Federal Narcotics Department, 85,500 people, including foreigners, were arrested for drug-related offences in the first half of 2013 and the seized drugs were valued at RM48.11mil, almost double the amount for the same period last year.

Its statistics show more than 190 Malaysians were arrested overseas for being drug mules since 2011, some in countries like China and Indonesia which also impose the death penalty.

In July last year, Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail said Malaysia might follow Singapore’s move to abolish the mandatory death penalty for drug couriers.

He said they were researching whether to give judges the discretion of imposing it and also to re-sentence those on death row to life sentences.

Yong Vui Kong.

 

Because of the amendments in Singapore, Sabahan Yong Vui Kong escaped the gallows with life imprisonment and 15 strokes of the cane at a re-sentencing on Nov 14.

Leong said in an interview that the call from the international community at the UPR was supported by the door-to-door survey of 1,535 Malaysian citizens between Nov 8, 2012 and Dec 28.

Bar president Christopher Leong.

“The findings, launched in July, show there would be little public opposition to the abolition of the mandatory death penalty for the three offences.

“A large majority favoured the death penalty, whether mandatory or discretionary - 91% for murder, 74-80% for drug trafficking depending on the drug, and 83% for firearms offences.

“But when presented with 12 ‘scenario’ cases, only 1.2 persons in 100 thought it was the appropriate punishment.”

Hasmy, who had attended Leong’s briefing for parliamentarians on Nov 14, said the findings showed Malaysians were not in favour of mandatory death sentences and preferred giving judges the discretion.

Leong said the Bar advocated the abolition of the death penalty on the belief that every individual has the inherent right to life as guaranteed under the Federal Constitution.

“Guilty persons ought to receive punishment but that is not the same as saying that they ought to die.

“The death penalty is a reflection of the notion that ‘an eye for an eye’ provides the best form of justice but this is a concept we should not embrace nor practise today, bearing in mind there is still no criminal justice system in place which is foolproof.”

As a result of the growing political and public debate here on whether the mandatory sentence should be abolished completely or retained and used only in the gravest of circumstances, Leong said, the DPP, a leading international human rights organisation, commissioned Prof Emeritus Roger Hood - an eminent criminologist from Oxford University - to design, analyse and report on the findings of the large-scale public opinion survey on the mandatory death penalty for the three said offences here.

The research was carried out by Ipsos Malaysia, a market research company. - The Star, 1/12/2013, Malaysians believe in death penalty, but not willing to mete it out, survey shows