KUALA LUMPUR  — The Malaysian government will table seven Bills related to the abolition of the mandatory death sentence in Parliament in February 2023, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Azalina Othman said in a statement on Wednesday (Dec 21).

She said that the proposed changes are expected to impact 1,327 prisoners who have been sentenced to death by the court.

In her statement, Ms Azalina also emphasised that the relevant amendments to the law would not abolish the death penalty altogether but instead gave the court discretion to decide the appropriate punishment based on the facts of the case.

Ms Azalina said that the cabinet has examined and discussed on Wednesday the proposed alternative sentences to the death sentence, which currently is in force for a range of offences in Malaysia.  

She added that the policy of proposing alternative sentences, which involve 11 offences that carry the mandatory death penalty including those relating to firearms, has been examined by the Attorney-General's Chamber (AGC).

There are currently another 23 offences that carry the death penalty, subject to the discretion of the court, under the law. 

The abolition of the mandatory death sentence was first raised by the Pakatan Harapan administration in 2018 and a moratorium on execution was then implemented.

Ms Azalina added the current moratorium imposed on death penalty convicts remains until all amendments to the Bills are implemented.

"For those who have yet been convicted, alternative punishments to the death penalty can be implemented prospectively," she said.

She assured that the proposals reflect the government’s commitment to deeply scrutinise how the abolition is being implemented “so that any follow-up action by the government concerning this issue would have a positive impact for the country".

Ms Azalina added that the government will also consider a follow-up study involving measures to reform the criminal justice system, such as having more effective sentencing policy and ways to reduce prison overcrowding.

"Focus will also be given to the punishment approach based on rehabilitation and restorative justice," she said. NEW STRAITS TIMES