If Anwar cares about Najib’s suffering, what about Malaysians facing death overseas?
It is of no use to find out that one is is innocent after being executed.
Last month, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said he did not wish for former prime minister Najib Razak to suffer in prison.
The compassion is welcome, but does it also apply to all Malaysians, especially those facing execution in other countries, like Pannir Selvam Pranthaman.
More than 70 Malaysians are facing execution in other countries for various offences.-
What is Malaysia doing to prevent Malaysians from being killed?
Has the government done its best to prevent Malaysians from being executed abroad, including in Singapore?
Hopefully, efforts have been made for Malaysians who are at risk of being executed, regardless of their socio-economic status or ethnicity.
Has Malaysia helped to prevent executions by way of legal assistance?
Malaysia has abolished the mandatory death penalty and the Federal Court has commuted the death sentences of hundreds of prisoners on death row.
In December 2024, Malaysia voted in favour of the UN General Assembly resolution on a moratorium on executions pending the abolition of the death penalty, a position Malaysia has held since 2018. Such a resolution is, of course, binding on all UN member states, including Singapore.
Malaysia is therefore obliged to take efforts to abolish the death penalty in Malaysia and also to act urgently to save the lives of Malaysians facing the death penalty in other countries, including Singapore.
Pannir is at risk of being executed any day now. Given the fact that in Singapore, a person can be executed after only four days' notice, it is all the more urgent for Anwar to act fast to save Malaysian lives.
A prison sentence is more than a sufficient penalty, and there is no reason to take someone’s God-given life – and, more importantly, there is always the risk of a miscarriage of justice.
It is of no use if after the execution it turns out that someone is innocent, as in the case of Chiang Kuo-ching, who was found innocent after his execution in Taiwan in 1997.
Singapore should provide all access to court easily, and not make it more difficult, because there is always the possibility that new evidence and arguments will emerge that will lead the courts to acquit or change the judgement.
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, such as the Singapore-Malaysia Prisoner Transfer Agreement to bring prisoners back to Malaysia.
As chair of Asean, Malaysia should advocate for a moratorium on executions and ultimately the abolition of the death penalty.
As Anwar makes many trips abroad to meet with other heads of state, it is hoped that he will also give serious thought to how he can prevent Malaysians from being deprived of their lives.
Charles Hector is part of Malaysians Against Death Penalty and Torture (Madpet) - Malaysia Now, 10/2/2025
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