Chiara Sangiorgio, an expert on Amnesty International’s global death penalty team, said Malaysia was at a crossroads and had the unique opportunity to make the right human rights choice.
“While there is some progress with a moratorium in place, there is a lot of arbitrariness and discrimination when it comes to those sentenced to death,” she said during an Amnesty International Malaysia (AIM) press conference today.
“Often, the sentence does not reflect the nature of the offence.”
Sangiorgio also said that it was hypocritical for Malaysia to advocate for the rights of Malaysians facing the death penalty in other countries when capital punishment had not been abolished here.
“As a result, other countries in the region won’t take Malaysia seriously,” she said.
Malaysia voted in favour of two UN General Assembly resolutions calling on states to establish a moratorium on executions in 2020.
A total of 1,359 people were reported to be on death row as of November 2021.
AIM researcher Brian Yap said the Cabinet review would send a signal to other Asean nations that Malaysia was taking the lead in reforming death penalty laws.
“We hope the Cabinet is brave enough to tackle this issue before moving towards legislative changes,” he said.
He added that rehabilitation had proven to be more successful in deterring criminal activity as opposed to the death sentence.
“Studies have shown time and again that capital punishment does not deter criminal acts like drug trafficking.
“If those incarcerated have already paid their dues and done their time, we should not close the door on them by sentencing them to death,” he said.
It was reported last month that Putrajaya would decide soon on recommendations by a committee chaired by former chief justice Richard Malanjum on the death penalty.
Wan Junaidi said the report, presented in 2020, would be brought to the Cabinet soon.
Lawyers and interest groups have called for a moratorium on the execution of death row inmates until Parliament votes on a bill seeking the abolition of the death penalty.
However, it is unclear whether Putrajaya has frozen all hangings or only the execution of those convicted of drug trafficking since 2019.