A TOTAL of 1,020 prisoners who have been sentenced to death and life imprisonment can now file an application in court to review their respective sentences.

Law and Institutional Reform Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Azalina Othman Said said the government will enforce the Revision of Sentence of Death and Imprisonment for Natural Life (Temporary Jurisdiction of the Federal Court) Act 2023 (Act 847) effective tomorrow.

This also follows the enforcement of another new law – the Abolition of Mandatory Death Penalty Act 2023 – on July 4.

Azalina said the cabinet on August 30 agreed with the mechanism of court proceedings on the revision of mandatory death sentences and life imprisonment as proposed after an engagement with stakeholders.

They included the Attorney-General’s Chambers, Federal Court chief registrar’s office, Prisons Department, National Legal Aid Foundation (YBGK), Malaysian Bar Council, Sabah Law Society, Advocates Association of Sarawak and Prime Minister’s Department’s legal affairs division.

“Priority on the implementation of this mechanism includes factors such as prisoner’s age, level of health and the period of imprisonment,” she said.

Azalina said one of the agreed mechanisms was for prisoners who were sentenced to death and were unable to appoint a lawyer to represent them in the sentence review process, to seek legal services through court-assigned lawyers.

For prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment, they could get legal services from YBGK, she said.

“These two legal aid services offered reflect the government’s priority and stance in ensuring justice is given to all Malaysians,” she said.

Azalina said the enforcement of Act 847 reflected the government’s high commitment to promoting and protecting universal human rights.

“This proves that the principle of restorative justice in the criminal justice system in Malaysia is always maintained,” she said.

“This also proves the concern of the unity government to give a second chance to prisoners sentenced to death and life imprisonment to return to society and family and continue living as ordinary citizens.” – Bernama, September 11, 2023.