Let's not be naive, will Najib's ex-bodyguards really be hanged? BAYING FOR SIRUL'S BLOOD

Last week, the murderers of Altantuya Shaariibuu – Azilah Hadri and Sirul Azhar Umar – were finally sentenced to death by the Federal Court. Many rejoiced over the decision, but there was subsequent anger when it was discovered that Sirul was now living in Australia.

I love some of the comments on social media. Bring him home to the noose, was one call. And, of course, many went truly conspiracy-theory crazy, alluding that he got away because the PM or his posse had arranged it.

Insane theories aside, there were questions raised on how Sirul got his passport to enable him to run off to Australia last November. Well, both of them were free men after the court acquitted them in 2008 because the prosecution didn’t apply for them to be remanded pending the appeal.

Australia has apparently rejected the extradition request on the basis that Sirul is facing the death penalty.

So far, nobody has actually called for an appeal for the death penalty to be set aside in favour of life imprisonment. Not a single one. I find this interesting because we have had a strong presence of those who reject the death penalty. At one point, Amnesty International called for a moratorium on capital punishment.

Yet, in this case, Amnesty, the UNHCR, and even the Human Rights Council (HRC), which has been so loud about Eric Paulsen, are quiet. I guess they are a pressure group with their own agendas.

So I have to ask: Is it because they are too high profile to take up the case, or is it because there is a level of hypocrisy even within these NGOs when it comes to calling out against the death penalty because of who the convicted persons are? I’ll wait for them to talk. But I won’t hold my breath.

I am for the death penalty through a court of law. I’ve never had any qualms telling people about it. And let me emphasise I said “through a court of law” before someone reacts with the simple tit-for-tat of extremists and terrorists.

But I am honestly quizzed by the fact that the same people who believe in human rights and all the associated freedoms have remained silent on this issue.

That being said, however, Malaysian laws are archaic and our citizenry is still stuck in believing government knows best especially when it comes to laws. The Sedition Act, the Official Secrets Act and even the Internal Security Act are such cases, and so are our religious laws. These require review and abolishing where they don’t apply to the Malaysia of today. Similarly, laws relating to drug offences as well require review.

Even our Penal Code requires review, particularly Section 377, because why on earth are we criminalising what people do in their personal spaces if they don’t record it and put it on YouTube or Pornhub?

It goes back to what Malaysia believes in. Do we as a majority believe that the value of a life is repayable by taking another? Do we believe that an eye for an eye will make you go blind, or do we throw that to the wind because we hate these particular people?

I think Malaysians need to think deeply about this particular issue, because it is an international cause that determines what kind of society we wish to be.

And I’m also keeping an eye out on those so-called “liberal” advocates and NGO leaders on what they are saying about this, because this is where you can see their true hypocrisy. - FMT