Final decision on death penalty soon

The special committee formed to look into the proposal to abolish the death penalty in the country will soon submit its findings to law minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, who will in turn present them to the Cabinet.

The government will make a final decision after the Cabinet has been briefed, with the bill to amend the laws on the death penalty and other relevent legislation expected to be tabled in Parliament by the third quarter of 2022.

Wan Junaidi said the committee, formed in 2019, had been asked to look at the issue from several aspects, taking into consideration the views of various stakeholders.

“One critical remit was to evaluate the effectiveness of capital punishment as a deterrent,” he said.

“We also need to see if the rehabilitation of convicts, if possible, would be the better option and in the best interest of the greater society.”

In a statement, he said the study by the committee was in line with the government’s aspirations to rehabilitate criminals where possible and to later assimilate them back into their communities as valuable members of society.

“If they have done their time, paid their dues, show genuine remorse for what they have done, and have been completely rehabilitated, we should not close the door on them,” he said.