THE bill to abolish the mandatory death sentence could be tabled next week after a working paper on the matter is presented to the cabinet tomorrow, said de facto law minister Liew Vui Keong.

Liew said preparation for the tabling of the bill will begin once the working paper to abolish mandatory death sentence for 11 offences is presented tomorrow.

Murder, armed robbery and offences against the state and the ruler, are among the 11 the offences.

Drug offences, however, will not be part of the 11 offences, as it falls under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drug Act.

Liew said mandatory death sentence for the said offences will be commuted to life imprisonment or a 30-year jail term.

However, this will be left to the discretion of the judge.

“The judge will have to consider the various mitigation circumstances before he can decide whether to pass the death penalty or 30 years in prison or life imprisonment without parole.” – July 4, 2019.