REDEFINING “dangerous drugs” and taking some off the list can decrease the nation’s prison population, said de facto law minister Liew Vui Keong.

The minister in the Prime Minister’s Department told the Dewan Rakyat that more than half of inmates are drug offenders.

“There are 65,222 inmates, and over 36,000 are in for drug offences. That’s 55%.

“Today, the most addictive drug is methamphetamine. When I talked about heroin, morphine, marijuana, cannabis and coca leaves, prison officers laughed. They told me the drug these days is methamphetamine.

“I think if we redefine drug use – for example, marijuana and morphine, which are also used by cancer patients, and have medicinal value – we can take some drugs off the list. We can bring down the number of prisoners.”

He was responding to points raised by opposition MPs on the government’s plan to abolish the death penalty when debating the 11th Malaysia Plan midterm review.

Currently, drug trafficking in Malaysia carries the mandatory death sentence.

Liew said the government spends about RM20 million a day on prisoners nationwide.

“Maintaining an inmate costs RM38 to RM41 a day, inclusive of the salaries of prison officers. That is about RM20 million for over 65,000 inmates in the country.”

Azizah Mohd Dun (BN-Beaufort) asked Liew if he realises the heavy price that others pay due to drugs, such as the families of youth addicts, as well as the youths themselves.

“I think the cost of protecting the future of our youth is more important.”

Dr Wee Ka Siong (BN-Ayer Hitam), who opposes the government’s proposed abolition of the death penalty for all crimes, including murder and drug trafficking, told Liew that the administration should not be penny-wise and pound-foolish.

He urged the government to form a parliamentary select committee to look into the plan and take all views into account, as well as consider strengthening the Dangerous Drugs Act rather than rushing the decision.

The previous Barisan Nasional government amended Section 39B of the act last year, giving power to the courts to use their discretion to determine if convicts had cooperated with authorities, whether locally or abroad, and mete out lighter sentences.

Liew said the government is not rushing the decision to abolish the death sentence, adding that even with the amended Dangerous Drugs Act, conditions remain tight, thus, disallowing judges from practising discretion.

“If it was possible, why couldn’t the judge in Muhammad Lukman’s case use his discretion?” he said, citing the case of a man facing the death penalty for possessing medicinal cannabis oil.

Government backbencher Ramkarpal Singh (PH-Bukit Gelugor) asked the administration whether it will allow the punishment faced by death row inmates to be retrospective and reviewed if certain cases warrant lighter sentences.

“If the amount of drugs trafficked was small, logically, they should face a commensurate penalty. That can also reduce the cost of maintaining inmates.

“Will the government consider having the courts review their sentences?”

The lawyer said drug traffickers should face appropriate punishments, but death is not one of them.

“Traffickers don’t force others to buy from them or consume drugs. They should be punished, no doubt about it.

“But with death? For selling to a party that voluntarily wants to buy?” – October 30, 2018.