KUALA LUMPUR — With no indication of help from his government, a desperate Sarawakian Jabing Kho is forced again to return to the Singapore courts to plead his case, this time with the help of a newly-appointed lawyer.

According to an activist who has been actively campaigning to reduce the youth’s sentence, Jabing’s lawyer filed an application yesterday (Nov 4) to stay the youth’s execution, which is scheduled for tomorrow in the island state.

The activist, Ms Kirsten Han, co-founder of We Believe in Second Chances, confirmed that the stay bid, along with another application filed by a private citizen, will be heard in court this morning.

Speaking to Malay Mail Online yesterday, Ms Han said it was disappointing that Sarawak’s government leaders have not stepped up to help Jabing, their own countryman.

She acknowledged state minister Dr James Masing’s statement yesterday that the state will not interfere in the case, but insisted that all was not lost for Jabing, who still has 24 hours on the clock to save his life.

“Jabing appointed a new lawyer on Tuesday and we are still hoping to file an application that can stay the execution,” she told Malay Mail Online.

She also disagreed with Dr Masing’s remark that Malaysia should not interfere in the legal affairs of other nations, saying seeking Putrajaya or the Sarawak government’s help to lobby for a lesser sentence should not be construed as interference.

Ms Han pointed out that when all other legal avenues have been exhausted, the appeal for clemency is the next option.

“That the Sarawakian government is not even willing to ask the Singapore government to show mercy to one of their own is yet another blow to the family,” she said.

Ms Han, as well as Jabing’s younger sister Jumai and their mother, have been campaigning for him to get his death sentence commuted to life imprisonment.

The 31-year old Miri native was first convicted and sentenced to death in 2010 for the murder of China national Cao Ruyin, 40.

When amendments to the mandatory death penalty came into force in 2013, however, Jabing was deemed eligible to apply for resentencing. The High Court then resentenced him to life imprisonment plus 24 strokes of the cane.

But the prosecution later appealed the decision and last January, the Singapore Court of Appeal sentenced the Malaysian to death in a 3-2 decision.

On Monday, Jumai confirmed with Malay Mail Online that her brother will be executed this Friday. She also made a final plea to the Malaysian and Sarawakian governments to step in and help her brother.

But yesterday, Dr Masing said that it was inappropriate for any Malaysian authority to interfere in the Singapore court system. He also urged Sarawakians to respect and abide by the laws of the countries they currently work and reside in.

When she heard the state minister’s comments, Jumai, 27, said she was shocked.

“I am shocked and I’m not satisfied.

“Why is it that Singapore citizens can help but the Malaysian government cannot help my mother and me,” she told Malay Mail Online, referring to Han and her colleagues.

“If they are in my position, they will understand how shocked I am that they could not even help my mother and I.”

The young mother of two still refuses to give up, however, and said she will contact Miri MP Michael Teo Yu Keng for help. MALAY MAIL ONLINE