By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Oct 27: The federal government is reviewing whether to maintain or end Malaysia’s death penalty moratorium, while proposing a 20-year detention period for children found guilty of murder.
According to a report by the Sarawak Public Communications Unit (Ukas), Deputy Director-General (Policy and Development) of the Legal Affairs Division (BHEUU), Prime Minister’s Department, Dato’ Dr Punitha Silivarajoo said both issues were being examined as part of efforts to improve the country’s legal system.
The proposed amendment to Section 97 of the Child Act 2001 seeks to replace the current provision allowing children convicted of murder to be detained for an indefinite period with a fixed 20-year term, subject to the consideration of the State Pardons Board.
Under the existing law, children found guilty of murder cannot be sentenced to death but may be detained for an indefinite period.
Dr Punitha said the death penalty moratorium, which has been in effect since 2018, was also under review to determine whether it should continue or be ended.
“Briefing sessions on both issues will be held throughout Malaysia, involving relevant parties, including State Secretaries or Governors, depending on the circumstances in each state,” she said speaking to reporters.
She said this after paying a courtesy call on Sarawak Governor Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar and his wife, Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Fauziah Mohd Sanusi, at Astana Negeri Sarawak here today.
The visit, which also involved the Malaysian Prison Department, aimed to brief the Governor on the latest developments in the review of the death penalty moratorium and the proposed amendment to the Child Act 2001.
Also present were Sarawak Attorney-General Dato Sri Saferi Ali, BHEUU Policy and Research Section director Kevin Geh Kien Meng, senior assistant directors Wan Nur Izzati Wan Yusoff and Sharon Silveraj, assistant director Nur Shahkierin Abd Manan, Malaysian Prison Department Deputy Commissioner-General of Prisons Hafidz Othman, Deputy Head of the Detention and Sentence Enforcement Unit, Prison Security and Order Division, Rosli Payiman, and Sarawak Administrative Unit deputy director Norlela Jarnie. — DayakDaily
