Malaysia backtracks on plans to abolish death penalty
Posted Mar 13, 2019 12:03:32 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Malaysia’s government has backtracked on an earlier plan to abolish capital punishment for all crimes, saying the death penalty stays but will no longer be mandatory for selected offences. Rights groups slam the U-turn and urged the government to reconsider.
Deputy Law Minister Hanipa Maidin announced the reversal of plans in parliament Wednesday.
He was quoted by the country’s Bernama news agency as saying the mandatory death penalty will be repealed for 11 offences, allowing courts to impose the death sentence at their discretion.
The government previously said it planned to abolish the death penalty, which has been applicable for nearly three dozen offences.
The Associated Press
