THE government is reviewing suggestions and views on substitute sentences to the mandatory death penalty.

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Ramkarpal Singh said this included the recommendations by the special committee chaired by former chief justice Richard Malanjum and engagement sessions with relevant government agencies and civil society organisations.

Ramkarpal said the proposed substitute sentences being studied must take into account the position of all parties involved to ensure that justice and rule of law are upheld.

“This process needs to emphasise the legal aspect. Therefore, amendments to the relevant laws will be finalised soon considering that these amendments are scheduled to be tabled in the upcoming Dewan Rakyat sitting,” he said in a statement today.

Bar president Karen Cheah, when opening the Legal Year 2023, urged the government to take appropriate measures to ensure that 1,327 convicted persons on death row are also spared the death penalty.

Ramkarpal said on October 6 last year, the former minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) had tabled seven bills in the Dewan Rakyat to make the necessary amendments to pertinent laws to implement the substitute sentences for the mandatory death penalty.

As such, he said any amendments need to be tabled again at the upcoming sitting following the dissolution of parliament on October 10, 2022.

“The government is always committed to abolishing the mandatory death penalty and is confident that there will be the best solution for the prisoners concerned in ensuring that the interests of all parties are taken into account,” he said. – Bernama, January 10, 2023.