Media Statement -10/2/2025
PM Anwar
Ibrahim’s cares about Najib’s sufferings in prison but does Malaysia also care
about Malaysians overseas at threat of being executed to death like Pannir Selvam
Use
Malaysia’s good relations and treaties like Singapore-Malaysia Prisoner
Transfer Treaty to save lives at risk of being judicially executed.
Of late, ‘..Anwar Ibrahim reportedly
said he does not wish for disgraced former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib
Razak to suffer in prison like he did…’(Malay
Mail, 21/1/2025). The Prime Minister’s ‘compassion’ is good, but does it
extend to all Malaysians, more so Malaysians at threat of being executed in
other countries like Pannir Selvam, a Malaysian Christian.
There are more than 70 Malaysians
at risk of being executed in other countries for various offence, and most
recently highlighted was Malaysian Paneer Selvam, at risk of being executed in
Singapore any time now. ‘Seventy-four Malaysians have been
sentenced to death abroad for drug trafficking offences as of early this month,
according to Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan. He said that these
death sentences were carried out in Brunei, China, Indonesia, Laos, Singapore,
Thailand, and Vietnam.’(NST,
17/10/2024) Besides drug trafficking, there will be even more Malaysians
facing the death sentence in other nation states for various other crimes. Statistics
are important, but what is more important is what has Malaysia done to prevent
Malaysians from being killed.
Has the Malaysian government done its
best to prevent Malaysians from being executed in foreign countries, including in
Singapore?
The Prime Minister and the government
must tell us what was done for these Malaysians at risk of being deprived of
life, and also the response of these States with regard to Malaysia’s endeavors
to save life.
Hopefully equal effort had been taken
for all Malaysians at risk of being executed irrespective of their socio-economic
status of the said persons and/or their family, religion or ethnicity. Besides diplomatic
efforts, has Malaysia also assisted to prevent executions by way of legal
assistance, etc.?
The government must transparently
reveal efforts taken to keep Malaysians alive, safe from judicial executions.
Malaysia – Death Penalty
and Moratorium on Executions
Now that Malaysia has abolished the
mandatory death penalty on 4/7/2023, and even permitted the Federal Court by
law to review all death penalty sentences that ended in more than 800 (but not
all) death row inmate’s death sentence being revised to imprisonment.
Malaysia also once again in December
2024 voted in favour for the UN General Assembly’s Resolution on moratorium of
executions pending the abolition of death penalty, a position that Malaysia has
taken since 2018. Such a resolution will naturally be binding on all UN member
States, including Singapore.
Thus, Malaysia now is OBLIGATED to work
extra hard towards abolition of the death penalty in Malaysia, and also to act urgently
to save lives of Malaysians facing the death penalty in other jurisdictions,
including Singapore.
Singapore and the Death
Penalty
On 14/12/2024, ‘According to news
reports, 25 prisoners have been executed in Singapore since 2022, with the
authorities showing little prospect of softening their approach to capital
punishment for drug traffickers.’ (Al
Jazeera, 14/12/2024)
It was reported in 2022, that ‘…since
2010, a total of 14 Malaysians have been on death row there with ethnic
Indians making up almost three-quarters of them at 11. Two Malays and one
ethnic Chinese rounded up the list.’ (Malay
Mail, 29/4/2022). Malaysians that have been reported executed by
Singapore include Yong Vui Kong(2013), Dinesh Pillai Reja Retnam(2014),
Wilkinson A/L Primus(2014), Cheong Chun Yin(2015) and Nagaenthran K
Dharmalingam(2022). At risk of being executed at any time soon are other
Malaysians including one Pannir Selvam.
Given that in Singapore, a person can
now be hanged to death speedily after being given a just a 4-day notice of
executions makes it all the more urgent for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to
act fast to save Malaysian lives. The government cannot afford to procrastinate.
Singapore has also amended its laws
that makes it even more difficult to those at risk of executions to file court
applications.
MADPET (Malaysians Against Death
Penalty and Torture), hopes Singapore will change like Malaysia did, and not
execute people anymore. Imprisonment is more than sufficient penalty, and there is
no need to deprive one’s God given life – and, more importantly, there is always
the risk of miscarriage of justice. It is of no use to find one is innocent
after he/she has been executed like in the case of Chiang Kuo-ching who was found
to be innocent after he executed in error in 1997 in Taiwan.
Singapore should provide all access
to court easily, and not make it more difficult as there is always the
possibility that new evidence and arguments may arise that will lead courts to
acquit or vary the sentences.
Malaysia’s moral obligation
to prevent Malaysians from being executed overseas
Now, Malaysia has the moral
authority, to act and urge these other nations not to put Malaysians, and
others, to death and to respect the United Nations General Assembly resolution
to impose a moratorium on execution pending abolition, which was passed on
17/12/2024, with the support of more than two third majority, with 130 voting
in favour, 22 abstentions and 32 voting in opposition. Even for UN Member
States that voted against, this UN Resolution on a moratorium on execution reasonably
is binding.
Malaysia also has the International
Transfer of Prisoners Act 2012, and relevant treaties with countries where
Malaysians are currently at risk of being sentenced to death like the Singapore-Malaysia Prisoner Transfer Treaty,
to bring back prisoners back to Malaysia.
Given that Malaysia at present have a
moratorium on executions, Malaysia can keep ALIVE Malaysians in other
jurisdictions about to be killed if they are brought back to Malaysia.
As Chair of ASEAN, MADPET
hopes that Malaysia will move ASEAN to also impose a moratorium on execution pending
abolition of the death penalty.
MADPET calls on Malaysia to protect the
lives of all Malaysians overseas facing the risk of judicial executions,
including Pannir Selvam.
MADPET reiterates the call for the
abolition of death penalty. For the next step, at least the abolition of death
penalty for crimes that caused no one to die.
As Malaysian Prime Minister is famous
for his international trips meeting country’s leader, it is hoped that he focusses
beyond just economic matters, but seriously consider preventing Malaysian from
being deprived of LIFE as is the case of those who are currently awaiting
execution. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim should use
Malaysia’s good relations to save.
Charles Hector
For and on behalf of
MADPET(Malaysians Against Death Penalty and Torture)
SINGAPORE:
Pannir Selvam Pranthaman is a Malaysian prisoner on death row in
Singapore for heroin trafficking. Arrested in 2014 and sentenced to
death three years later, he was granted a stay of execution in 2019, one
day before he was to be hanged.
In late 2021, however, the Court of Appeal dismissed his
application for permission to start judicial review proceedings. And
since judicial executions, which temporarily came to a halt during the
COVID-19 pandemic, were resumed at the end of March 2022, Christmas of
this year may likely be Pannir Selvam’s last one.
Eleven people so far have been executed in Singapore since March last year, all of whom had been convicted of drug trafficking.
His sisters, Angelia and Sangkari (Shan), recently spoke to the Malaysian national news agency Bernama about their 36-year-old brother, whom they have barely seen since he was imprisoned in Singapore.
And while chances of Pannir Selvam getting another stay of execution are very slim, the women remain steadfast.
“We cannot give up on anyone in our family. The hope is there,” Shan is quoted as saying.
Pannir’s life story…
Pannir Selvam was born in Ipoh to a Christian family in
1987, the third child out of six. His father was a pastor and lorry
driver, and his mother was a housewife.
He moved to Singapore in 2010 and worked as a private security officer, later enrolling at Stamford American International School (SAIS). He continued to work, however, and even funded the university education of one of his sisters.
Pannir Selvam, then 27, was discovered carrying 51.84g of
heroin into Singapore on Sept 3, 2014, and was arrested. Under Singapore
law, anyone found to be illegally trafficking at least 15g of heroin
when he or she is arrested faces capital punishment.
In his defence, he said that he had been acting as a drug
mule for a man named “Anand” who had asked him to pass the substance to
another man named “Jimmy.”
Pannir
Selvam claimed he was unaware of the nature of the substance he had
been asked to carry. He tried but did not qualify for the substantive
assistance rule despite cooperating with authorities in Singapore.
“Pannir has been reflecting on his actions in prison. He’s
expressed deep remorse about what he has done. We believe Pannir still
has a lot to offer society. Inside prison, he’s been reading,
self-studying, and following political news – especially developments on
Malaysia Baru.
He has also become a man of faith. If given a second
chance at life, he hopes to educate others on drug abuse prevention, and
support prison reform programmes,” reads a website aimed at appealing
to give him another chance.
A petition to save Pannir Selvam’s life has been shared online and signed by 17,000 netizens. /TISG
Read also: Halt Selvam’s execution, says Asean rights activist - The Independent Singapore, 28/12/2024
A plea for Pannir Selvam
Pannir Selvam’s early life was not one filled with crime, violence, or anything of the sort says the writer. — amnesty.org
ONE OF my best friends lives in Singapore and when I go down to visit, he’ll often take me cycling.
We
often start our ride either around Marina Bay Sands or the Stadium
area, being sure to pass the Marina Barrage and the Bay East Garden,
before going up the East Coast Park.
It’s an absolutely gorgeous
ride, with gorgeous views of gorgeous water. And if you follow the East
Coast Parkway all the way to the end, you’re not far from Changi
Airport, and Changi Prison.
Inside Changi Prison is a
37-year-old Malaysian gentleman by the name of Pannir Selvam Pranthaman,
who will likely never experience the beauty of that simple bike ride or
anything like it ever again.
Pannir Selvam is currently on
death row. In 2017, he was sentenced to death after being caught
crossing the border from Malaysia to Singapore with 51.84 grams of
diamorphine.
Pannir Selvam’s early life was not one filled with crime, violence, or anything of the sort.
His
sister, Angelia Pranthaman spoke of a childhood filled with football,
running, video games, music, fashion, church camps and youth activities.
“I remember Deepavali nights were spent in my auntie’s
amazing village, surrounded by fruit trees and rivers, waking up to the
sweet sounds of birdsong. The night before, we would play cards, sip hot
Indian teh tarik and breakfast would always be on the table, ready for
us, the next day. It would often be tosai and chicken curry.”
When
Pannir Selvam grew older, he started working as a warehouse assistant
in Ipoh. He then eventually began working in Singapore, selling
children’s educational books and working as a security guard, sometimes
taking double shifts.
As has happened far too often with poor
and vulnerable people, Pannir Selvam eventually found himself duped by a
"friend" into carrying a package across the border.
After his
arrest, he did his best to cooperate with the authorities - both on the
Malaysian and Singaporean sides of the border. He provided as much
information as he was able to regarding who had given him the package,
who the bosses were and so on.
The Singapore High Court judge
who convicted Pannir Selvam determined that he was a courier. According
to Singapore’s Misuse of Drugs Act, as long as a convict is designated a
courier, and has been issued a certificate by the public prosecutor
stating that they cooperated with the authorities, the court then has
the discretion to not impose the death penalty.
For reasons that remain baffling and extremely unclear, Pannir Selvam was denied this certificate by the public prosecutor.
This case is slightly reminiscent of the case of Nagaenthran K. Dharmalingam.
In
April 2009, Nagaenthran was caught at the border with 42.72 grams of
drugs. He was found to have an intellectual disability, and testified
that someone had threatened to kill his girlfriend and his family if he
did not perform the task that was asked of him.
Despite a
sustained plea for clemency by all kinds of individuals around the
world, who emphasised Nagaenthran’s intellectual disability, Nagaenthran
was executed in April 2022, after spending 13 years on death row.
After
all these years, the primary tragedy seems to be the same: only the
weakest, most vulnerable, often unaware links in the drug trade are
targeted, and imposed such harsh punishments.
It seems
especially tragic that while there seems to be little or no clemency for
these drug mules, we can’t seem to recall a single story in which a
drug kingpin or mastermind is actually ever caught or prosecuted.
No
one who is advocating for clemency and, or, the abolishment of the
death penalty is looking to be ‘softer’ on crime. Most are simply
pleading for more proportionate penalties, and a greater focus on the
true instigators that are driving this ecosystem.
And if the
demand for drugs continues to remain so high, perhaps we should be
looking more closely at who is driving this demand, and what can be done
to stem the problem there, instead on inflicting the harshest possible
punishments on the weakest and most voiceless.
At a press
conference organised by Amnesty International and the Anti-Death Penalty
Asia Network (ADPAN) this last week, Pannir Selvam’s sister Angelia
said: “Watching this right now, we feel, so weak right now. And
voiceless against the big power. All I can say is, please save my
brother.
"He has done all he can do. He doesn’t have to die. He
has cooperated. We as a family have been having sleepless nights. We are
searching for a way to save him."
Some may not be aware that in
his time in prison, Pannir Selvam is still trying to touch and spread
beauty in the world, especially through poetry. Here are the excerpts
from two poetries composed by Pannir Selvam.
The first is a tribute to his sister Angelia:
“Angel...
Isn’t just her name,
She stays true.
In person and heart,
Just the same,
One and only lil’ sister,
Grace yet fighter,
Of the love of four brothers,
She braces even twister,
Days in, days out,
She fight so hard,
So those cold heart’s.
Can learn to warm up.”
While the second speaks to the struggle of the long, lonely wait on death row:
“In the darkness of night,
I’m bleeding by stabs of silences,
It’s been my loyal companion,
Yet still I stand with resilience,
For me, being alone,
Doesn’t mean, living alone,
I hear whispers in the wind,
Telling me to keep cope,
Voices in my mind,
Telling me to keep hope,
Learn to be strong...
Through all the streams...
In the darkness of night,
Is it possible for the fallen,
To seek the light?
Or are they doomed,
To just sit tight,
To give up without a fight?
I learned, without the dark night,
The moon can’t shine bright,
Without the dark night,
I can’t appreciate the beauty of the starlight...
Even now, they’re out of my sight,
I’ll be there when the time is right.” - Star, 9/2/2025
Silence isn’t an option: Rights groups urge Malaysia as Asean chair to call a stop on Pannir Selvam’s execution in Singapore
Amnesty
International Malaysia and Adpan hosts a press cofnerence calling for a
stop to Pannir Selvam's execution in Singapore. — Picture courtesy of
Amnesty International Malaysia
By Malay Mail
Thursday, 06 Feb 2025 1:07 PM MYT
KUALA
LUMPUR, Feb 6 – A coalition of civil society organisations has today
urged the Malaysian government to take immediate action to prevent the
execution of Malaysian national Pannir Selvam Pranthaman in Singapore.
The
groups said as the Asean chair, Malaysia has the opportunity to
advocate against the death penalty, they said, calling for the
government to intervene through diplomatic channels, including direct
appeals to Singapore’s leadership.
“As
a neighbouring state with close historical and diplomatic ties to
Singapore, Malaysia is uniquely positioned to stand up for human rights
and safeguard the rights of its nationals facing execution in the
country.
“When human rights are at stake, silence is not a tenable
option and all possible actions should be undertaken to halt executions
and the use of the death penalty, including when it is applied in
violation of international human rights law and just across our
borders,” Amnesty International Malaysia and the Anti-Death Penalty Asia
Network (Adpan) said in a joint statement here.
The
groups said that Pannir, who was convicted in 2017 of importing 51.84g
of heroin into Singapore, has exhausted all legal avenues and could face
execution at any time.
“Pannir’s case has been riddled with several violations of international human rights law and standards,” they said.
The
groups claimed that the prosecution did not provide Pannir with a
Certificate of Substantial Assistance, leaving no option for the judge
but to impose the mandatory death penalty — an alleged violation of his
right to a fair trial.
The
organisations also criticised Singapore’s use of legal presumptions
under the Misuse of Drugs Act, which they said shifted the burden of
proof onto defendants and undermined the right to be presumed innocent.
They
also highlighted Singapore’s recent acceleration of executions, with
eight out of nine individuals executed in 2024 for drug-related
offences, and a new law limiting the ability of death row inmates to
seek legal reviews.
Pannir has spent years advocating against the
death penalty from his prison cell, writing songs and poems that have
been shared by Sebaran Kasih, an NGO founded by his sister. His works
have been performed by Malaysian artists, including Datuk DJ Dave,
Santeshh Kumar and Kidd Santhe.
The statement was endorsed by 18
other organisations, including Lawyers for Liberty, Bersih, Suara Rakyat
Malaysia (Suaram), and Sisters in Islam. It was also endorsed by
several individuals, including human rights lawyer Andrew Khoo. - Malay Mail, 6/2/2025
