KUALA KANGSAR: Drug offenders on death row may have their sentences stayed pending the government's final decision on the proposal to abolish the mandatory death sentence.    

Minister in Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz said he will be discussing the application for a moratorium on the matter with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.      

"The alternative sentence for possession of drugs is being studied by the Attorney-General's Office. I'm also going to discuss with the Prime Minister about applying for a moratorium on the death sentence cases so that they're not hanged while we're reviewing the existing penalty," he told reporters after a gathering at Jenalik in Sauk, here today.   

He said the moratorium was necessary as more than half of the 900 prisoners awaiting execution were drug offenders.   

There were also almost 250 Malaysians detained abroad for the possession of drugs, who had been used as drug mules, and the government was working towards saving them from the death sentences meted out by most of the countries such as China, Venezuela, Columbia and Peru, he added.  

"The majority of the countries where they're detained have the mandatory death sentence for possession of drugs. So if we want to save the Malaysian 'drug mules', a large number of whom were not aware they were being used, how can we appeal to those countries while we ourselves hang such offenders. It doesn't make sense," he explained.     

Commenting on an appropriate alternative to death by hanging, he said perhaps 30 to 35 years in prison could be considered.

On a separate note, Mohamed Nazri, who is also Padang Rengas member of parliament, responded that the 13th General Election was expected to be held next year as the Barisan Nasional government wanted to ensure the delivery of their promises made during the 2013 Budget. 



- Bernama

 

 

 

 

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