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     Wednesday, March 22 2006, 02:54:25 AM
New Straits Times » Frontpage

Hang the noose
Abolish the death penalty?

Anis Ibrahim


KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 359 people have been hanged since 1970. Many of them trafficked in drugs, some of them like notorious bomoh Mona Fandey were involved in murders and a number committed firearms robberies.

Malaysia is one of 76 countries in the world where the death penalty is still part of the law-and-order regime.

The Bar Council said over the weekend that it would campaign for the death penalty to be abolished, arguing that the punishment was barbaric, inhumane and an insufficient deterrent.

It also called for an immediate moratorium on all death sentences pending amendments to the law.

The country’s de facto law minister yesterday threw his support behind the move to do away with the death penalty.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz said: "I am open to the idea but as it’s not an issue of just the minister taking a stand, it must be discussed with the Attorney-General.

"I welcome this proposal. This is definitely something which should be looked into.

"For me, a life is a life. No one has the right to take someone else’s life, even if that person has taken another life."

However, Nazri said that it was not possible to impose a moratorium on death sentences.

"They cannot do that. Laws providing for such sentences still exist until we decide to do away with them.

"The death sentence has been part of our laws for a long time.

"It goes with the fabric of the whole system. After discussions are held, hopefully the A-G will advise the Government."

Any move to abolish the death penalty is likely to face stiff opposition from the Government and also those who believe that the rights of offenders must be weighed against the rights of victims and the rights of the community to live and work in safety and security.

Should the death penalty be abolished? Please email comments to news@nst.com.my or SMS to 32728.
     
 
 
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