Thursday May 25, 2017
04:59 PM GMT+8
04:59 PM GMT+8
MAY
25 — The Malaysian Bar is deeply troubled that two persons — Yong Kar
Mun, aged 48, and an individual whose identity has not been reported —
were executed by hanging at Sungai Buloh Prison yesterday morning. The
prison authorities there had written to the family of Yong Kar Mun on
May 19, 2017 to inform them that he would be hanged to death soon, and
that they could pay him a final visit on May 23, 2017.
Yong Kar Mun had been convicted under Section 3 of the Firearms
(Increased Penalties) Act 1971 for discharging a firearm when committing
a robbery, and the mandatory death penalty was meted out.
The Malaysian Bar is appalled that the two executions yesterday bring
the total of reported executions this year to four: Rames Batumalai,
aged 44, and his brother Suthar Batumalai, aged 39, were reportedly
executed at Kajang Prison on March 15, 2017.
Every individual has an inherent right to life — as enshrined in
Article 5(1) of the Federal Constitution — which is absolute, universal
and inalienable, irrespective of any crimes that have been committed.
We do not condone or excuse any crimes that have been committed. There
is no denying that guilty persons ought to receive punishment, and
justice must be served. However, to be just and effective, punishment
must always be proportionate to the gravity of offences committed, and
the State must never resort to taking a human life. Furthermore, studies
have shown that there is no conclusive evidence of the deterrent value
of the death penalty.
The death penalty is an extreme, abhorrent and inhumane punishment, and must not be taken lightly, as it is irreversible.
The Malaysian Bar calls upon the Government to act swiftly to abolish
the death penalty for all crimes, stop executions, and commute each
death sentence to one of life imprisonment.- Malay Mail, 25/5/2017
* This statement is submitted by George Varughese, president of the Malaysian Bar.
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