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Putrajaya has been urged to table the bill to abolish the death penalty in the final week of the last sitting of the Dewan Rakyat for the year.
In a statement today, Lawyers for Liberty executive director N Surendran said despite assurances from Putrajaya that the death penalty would be abolished, no bill to this effect has been tabled in Parliament.
“In fact, no such bill has even appeared yet in the parliamentary Order Paper, whether in the list for first reading or in the Orders of the day.
“This is a grave cause for concern, as the current session of the Dewan Rakyat will end by next week.
“We understand that the bill to abolish the death penalty has been given to the cabinet for approval. Who, or what, is then holding it up?” he asked.
Fitting to mark Human Rights Day
The lawyer added that there are many cabinet members who had previously campaigned for human rights and they should not forget their commitments.
“We hope that there will be no backtracking or compromise in the government's decision to totally abolish the death penalty.
“If the government now changes position on this, it will be seen to be weak, indecisive and untrustworthy. Another U-turn will be devastating for public confidence in the new government,” he stressed.
Surendran said it would be fitting if Putrajaya tabled the bill on Dec 10 – International Human Rights Day – as a gift to the Malaysian people who voted for justice, the rule of law and the upholding of human rights.
Last month, Putrajaya agreed to scrap the death penalty for 33 offences.
However, some Pakatan Harapan lawmakers had expressed reservations to this following the rape and murder of a nine-month-old baby. - Mkini
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