Amnesty asks Malaysia to abolish death penalty
Published: Oct 9, 2009 6:17 AM | Updated: Oct 9, 2009 6:22 AM
Amnesty International has once again called for a moratorium on all death penalty executions in conjunction with the World Day Against Death Penalty which takes place today.
Amnesty International has once again called for a moratorium on all death penalty executions in conjunction with the World Day Against Death Penalty which takes place today.
"(This is) in accordance with the UN General Assembly resolution in 2007, which calls for the abolishment of all death penalties in the future and provide safeguards guaranteeing protection of rights of those facing the death penalty, and progressively reduce the use of the death penalty in a number of offences for which it may be imposed," said campaign coordinator, K. Shan (left), in a statement today.
According to Amnesty International, as a member of the UN, Malaysia should adhere to this global call which has seen 139 countries abolishing the death penalty in law or in practice.
More countries are expected to follow suit.
Citing the reason for the call, he said, "The death penalty is the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment, (and it) has no place in today's criminal justice system. (It) legitimises an irreversible act of violence by the state...a life of a person cannot be brought back."
Further, he added, there is no evidence that it is a greater deterrent to crime if compared to life imprisonment.
Right to life is fundamental
The organisation also calls for the limitation clause of ‘save in accordance with the law' be removed from Article 5(1) of the Federal Constitution - liberty of the person.
This is to honour the true intention of the article, which clearly stipulates a person's right to life and liberty as a fundamental right for all living in Malaysia.
The fundamental right to life, said Shan, is defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).
"These rights are not privileges that may be granted by governments for good behaviour or withdrawn for bad behaviour....no matter what reasons a government (may give), the death penalty cannot be separated from the issue of human rights," he noted.
Offences which carry a mandatory death penalty in Malaysia include drug trafficking, terrorism, murder, firearm possession and poisoning of the water supplies.
"(This is) in accordance with the UN General Assembly resolution in 2007, which calls for the abolishment of all death penalties in the future and provide safeguards guaranteeing protection of rights of those facing the death penalty, and progressively reduce the use of the death penalty in a number of offences for which it may be imposed," said campaign coordinator, K. Shan (left), in a statement today. According to Amnesty International, as a member of the UN, Malaysia should adhere to this global call which has seen 139 countries abolishing the death penalty in law or in practice.
More countries are expected to follow suit.
Citing the reason for the call, he said, "The death penalty is the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment, (and it) has no place in today's criminal justice system. (It) legitimises an irreversible act of violence by the state...a life of a person cannot be brought back."
Further, he added, there is no evidence that it is a greater deterrent to crime if compared to life imprisonment.
Right to life is fundamental
The organisation also calls for the limitation clause of ‘save in accordance with the law' be removed from Article 5(1) of the Federal Constitution - liberty of the person. This is to honour the true intention of the article, which clearly stipulates a person's right to life and liberty as a fundamental right for all living in Malaysia.
The fundamental right to life, said Shan, is defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).
"These rights are not privileges that may be granted by governments for good behaviour or withdrawn for bad behaviour....no matter what reasons a government (may give), the death penalty cannot be separated from the issue of human rights," he noted.
Offences which carry a mandatory death penalty in Malaysia include drug trafficking, terrorism, murder, firearm possession and poisoning of the water supplies.
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