A TOTAL of 1,337 prisoners were handed down the death sentence between 1997 and September 23 this year, Home Minister Hamzah Zainudin said.

In a written parliamentary reply to Seputeh lawmaker Teresa Kok, Hamzah said a majority were sentenced for drug offences.

“There are 891 (66.64%) inmates who were sentenced under section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 (for trafficking),” he said.

“A total of 415 (31.03%) were sentenced under section 302 of the penal code (murder).

“Whereas 17 (1.27%) were sentenced under sections 3 and 7 of the Arms Act 1960; seven (0.52%) under section 121 of the penal code; five (0.37%) under section 3 of the Kidnapping Act 1961; and two (0.15%) were sentenced under section 396 of the penal code.”

Hamzah said that 198 death row inmates have had their sentence reduced or have been pardoned since 2009.

On June 11, Malaysia agreed to abolish the mandatory death penalty and to substitute it with other sentences, which are subject to the discretion of the court.

The government said further study will be carried out on the proposed substitute sentences for 11 offences carrying the mandatory death penalty, one of which is under section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 and 22 offences carrying the death penalty but with the court’s discretion. – October 5, 2022.