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Home News Malaysia commutes first batch of death sentences under new law

Malaysia commutes first batch of death sentences under new law

by Celia

Reported that the Federal Court will review the cases of 14 more prisoners tomorrow, with many more expected to follow.

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In a statement ahead of yesterday’s Federal Court hearing, Law Minister Azalina Othman Said said nearly 1,000 people facing the death penalty or life imprisonment had filed applications for review.

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“This proves that the principle of restorative justice is always upheld in the criminal justice system in Malaysia,” she said in the statement. “This success also reflects the government’s commitment to the promotion and defence of universal human rights.”

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In reaching its decision, the Federal Court took into account “various factors”, including the inmate’s age, health and the number of years already served, Azalina said.

The reform dates back to 2018, when the Pakatan Harapan government, which came to power in that year’s general election, imposed a moratorium on the death penalty and promised to abolish it altogether. It is one of the few of the government’s promised reforms to survive the gauntlet of conservative opposition and find its way into law.

At the time of its passage, advocacy group Human Rights Watch called it “an important step in aligning with international human rights norms and growing global opposition to the death penalty”.

The government of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is also planning to decriminalise the possession and use of small amounts of illegal drugs, citing the need to reduce prison overcrowding.

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