Govt has finalised abolishment of mandatory death penalty, says law minister

The government has decided to replace the mandatory death penalty with alternative punishments, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar says.

In a statement, he said the decision was made after two series of meetings held on Sept 6 and 13 by the Substitute Sentences for the Mandatory Death Penalty Task Force Technical Committee which he had chaired.

The government had agreed in principle to the proposal to substitute the sentences for 11 offences carrying the mandatory death penalty, including one under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 and 22 other offences that also carry the death penalty, but at the discretion of the courts, and to provide a moratorium for the 1,337 who have been convicted and sentenced to death.

The decision of the task force will be submitted to the Cabinet to be tabled at the Cabinet meeting for approval and for amendments to be passed at the Third Meeting of the Fifth Term of the 14th Parliament in the Dewan Rakyat.

The first reading of the bill is expected on Oct 4 and the second on Nov 22.