The Death Penalty In Malaysia Is Likely To Be Abolished In February

Illustration - The defendant in the case of possession of methamphetamine is demanded to be sentenced to death. BETWEEN

JAKARTA - Malaysia, taking into account the existing criminal justice system, is likely to abolish the death penalty in February next year, one of the ministers said on Wednesday. Azalina Othman Said, who has just been appointed minister of legal and institutional reforms, said the unity government would present an amendment to the death penalty at a parliamentary meeting next February. The amendment will propose an alternative penalty for the death penalty, he said. If it has been passed by parliament, the amendment will affect 1,327 death row inmates. "They will get an alternative punishment," Azalina said in a statement quoted via Antara, Thursday, December 22. "For other detainees who have not been prosecuted, alternative punishments can be applied other than the death penalty," he said. "I would like to underline that the amendment does not completely abolish the death sentence, but gives the court the flexibility to decide the right sentence," he said. Azalina said, "Attention will be centered on penalties based on rehabilitative and restorative justice." Malaysia's unity government is led by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and has a strong position in parliament, known as the People's Council.