PUTRAJAYA: The government will table the first reading on legislative amendments to abolish the mandatory death penalty in October at the Dewan Rakyat.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the related amendments will then be tabled in the Dewan Negara in December, and by January next year, the country will abolish the mandatory death penalty.
He said the government will conduct a public survey, ahead of the first reading for the amendments to gather feedback on the abolishment from the people.
"We want feedback from the public, similar to what we did on the anti-party hopping bill, which garnered over 7,000 respondents.
"If many quarters oppose it, we will bring the matter to the cabinet for further decision.
"Regarding these amendments, I am confident that the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) is ready for the first reading in October in the Dewan Rakyat, and then at Dewan Negara in December.
"By January next year it will be abolished in reality," he told a press conference here today.
The government had on Friday agreed to abolish the mandatory death penalty, and to substitute it with other sentences subject to the discretion of the Courts.
The decision was reached after Wan Junaidi reported on substitute sentences for the mandatory death penalty during the weekly Cabinet meeting on Wednesday (June 8).
At the press conference, Wan Junaidi also clarified that the death penalty still exists in the country's legislation.
"The recent government's decision only involves the abolition of the mandatory death penalty and to replace it with substitute sentences, subject to the courts' discretion," he said, adding that the initiative to abolish the mandatory death penalty began in 2012.
Wan Junaidi said the togovernment's decision to abolish the mandatory death penalty involved 11 offences, with nine offences under the Penal Code, and another two under the Firearms (Increased Penalties) Act 1971.
"Alternative penalties following the abolition of the mandatory death penalty on 11 offences are at the discretion of the court."
As of Dec 31, 144 countries have abolished the death penalty while 55 countries still maintain it.
Meanwhile, Wan Junaidi said the government will establish a tribunal to review the sentences of those currently on death row, after the amendments to abolish the mandatory death penalty are completed.
He said at present, there are 1,342 inmates on the death row.
"In this case, the moratorium on the mandatory death penalty on those currently on death row will remain as amendments to the laws are yet to be completed.
"The Legal Affairs Division and the AGC will review and study the feasibility of the recommendations submitted by a Special Committee on these 1,342 inmates."
He said a tribunal will be set up to discuss the death row convicts.
