“We just heard five minutes ago that his appeal for the stay was rejected. Which means that potentially the execution will go on tomorrow,” she told FMT when met outside the Singapore high commission here tonight.
Nearly 100 people had gathered outside the high commission for a candlelight vigil urging compassion and calling on Singapore to halt Pannir’s execution.
Pannir, 36, was convicted in Singapore for trafficking 51.84g of diamorphine through the Woodlands checkpoint in 2014.
Earlier today, the New Straits Times reported that Pannir’s lawyer, Too Xing Ji, had applied for a stay of execution yesterday on grounds that the Attorney-General’s Chambers may need to reconsider granting him a certificate of substantive assistance, in view of the information he provided to Malaysian police regarding a drug trafficking network operating across the Singapore–Johor border.
Qistina said Amnesty International Malaysia had consistently organised vigils to oppose the death penalty and to encourage both Malaysia and Singapore to review their stance.
“We’ve always had vigils – even a week ago we held one for K Datchinamurthy. Our aim is to pressure the Singapore government while raising public awareness in Malaysia that the death penalty is not the solution,” she said.
Qistina said despite Pannir’s cooperation with investigators, he was not granted a certificate of substantive assistance which could have spared him the death penalty.
She said Pannir’s case reflected broader concerns about Singapore’s application of capital punishment.
“His case is emblematic of wider human rights issues. The way Singapore carries out executions – not just of Malaysians, but others – is inhumane and disregards the dignity of those involved.
“Our message to the Singapore government is to halt Pannir’s execution and establish a moratorium for all prisoners on death row, regardless of nationality,” she said.
Pannir’s lawyer, N Surendran, who also spoke at the vigil, condemned Singapore’s capital punishment policy, calling it cruel and ineffective.
“These executions serve no purpose. They don’t stop the drug trade because only the couriers are punished while the major traffickers go free,” he said.
“It’s a brutal and unnecessary practice that achieves nothing.”