Bill on abolition of mandatory death penalty to be tabled next month

The bill on the abolition of the mandatory death penalty will be tabled for first reading at the Dewan Rakyat next month.

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Ramkarpal Singh said the bill was expected to be passed in April and gazetted by May.

"When it is gazetted, those affected (convicts) can file their application (to use the provisions under the bill) at the Federal Court with the help of lawyers and the Prisons Department," he told reporters after visiting Kajang Prison yesterday.

Ramkarpal said a total of 1,320 prisoners sent to the gallows or sentenced to natural life imprisonment would be affected when the bill is gazetted.

He added that the applications would go through the court process and that the sentences would not be automatically reduced.

"The court will hear not only from the accused or those who have been convicted – the victims and families will also have the opportunity to present factors that will be brought to the court's attention through the attorney-general or the deputy public prosecutor.

"The Federal Court will look at the cases one by one to determine whether the death penalty should be replaced," he said.

Ramkarpal said the new law would have an impact on these prisoners in terms of rehabilitation and open up opportunities for them to re-enter the community.

Ramkarpal earlier participated in a dialogue with seven death-row and life-sentenced prisoners to hear their opinions on the proposed abolition of the mandatory death penalty.

On June 10 last year, the government at the time agreed to abolish the mandatory death penalty and to substitute it with other sentences subject to the discretion of the court.