DR Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said Putrajaya will review the use of the death penalty in child murder cases, following the tragic death of a baby girl in Bangi last week.

The deputy prime minister, who also holds the women, family and community development portfolio, said drugs, mainly methamphetamine, play a huge role in such cases.

“It is a heinous crime, as I’ve said. We discussed with police about how to get rid of the problem. Drugs, mainly methamphetamine, caused all these child murders.

“The death penalty is one of the things that we (the government) will discuss,” she said after visiting the Bukit Aman Sexual, Women and Child Investigations Division (D11).

Dr Wan Azizah’s statement comes after the death of a 9-month-old believed to have been physically and sexually abused by her sitter’s husband.

The babysitter and her husband have been arrested by police, and the case is being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.

The child, who was allegedly raped, sodomised and abused by the male suspect, died on Saturday.

It was reported that Kajang police chief Ahmad Dzaffir Mohd Yussof said a post-mortem carried out by Serdang Hospital’s pathology department found that the victim died due to a “blunt impact to the head”, which caused her skull to fracture.

“Urine tests found the man to be positive for methamphetamine.”

Dr Wan Azizah said the government will work to improve D11, which has not been upgraded for a long time.

“I came to visit and was briefed on the condition (of D11). I will write to the home minister on ways we can upgrade the unit, which takes care of vulnerable groups, such as women and children who need protection. It has not been upgraded for so long.

“The volume of cases has surpassed 11,000 a year. The increase in cases is the reason why the unit needs an upgrade.”

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Liew Vui Keong earlier today said the cabinet has decided that the death penalty for 33 offences under eight acts will be abolished, including murder. – November 13, 2018.