SUHAKAM is also against the death penalty

Well, SUHAKAM is also against the death penalty...

The commission is against capital punishment and had recommended for it to be removed. How do you think we should rehabilitate a convict? Bisky Tee, Bandar Utama

Suhakam is against capital punishment as it is one of those human rights principles enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and other international human rights conventions. It is our hope that we would be able to do away with this inhumane form of punishment one day. Suhakam had recommended that the Government consider placing a moratorium on capital punishment with a view to abolishing it in the future.

Suhakam has made visits to prisons and undertaken legal research with a view to making recommendations on prison reform to ensure compatibility with the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for Treatment of Prisoners.

There are already some mechanisms in place on the rehabilitation of prisoners by way of providing them with counselling, religious education and spiritual activities, as well as vocational training to better equip them with skills before re-entering mainstream society. Except, perhaps for some hardened criminals, many serving prison sentences could and should be rehabilitated. The important thing is for the prisoners, having served their sentences, to be given a second chance to resume their lives as citizens without being stigmatised by society. - Star, 5/2/2011, Suhakam’s Tan Sri Hasmy Agam answers Your 10 Questions