Latest news with #Act847
The Sun
23-07-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Govt forms task force to review death penalty policy in Malaysia
KUALA LUMPUR: The government will establish a task force under the Criminal Law Reform Committee (CLRC) to conduct a comprehensive review of the country's death penalty policy and direction. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said the decision to form the task force was made by the government on July 9. 'This review will be carried out comprehensively using an evidence-based approach, involving all stakeholders, including the families of death row inmates and victims' families. 'The government is committed to examining the matter thoroughly before making any final decision,' she said in a written reply uploaded on the Parliament website on Tuesday (July 22). She was responding to a question from Syerleena Abdul Rashid (PH–Bukit Bendera) on the government's direction towards the complete abolition of the death penalty and whether the existing moratorium on executions would be maintained in line with Malaysia's support for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolution. Azalina said the establishment of the task force followed suggestions made by stakeholders during several engagement sessions held in April this year, which called for a more in-depth study as there were still prisoners awaiting execution. She said the engagement session, which involved government agencies, legal bodies, non-governmental organisations and civil society organisations, was held to gather preliminary views on the policy direction, including implementation, legal and human rights aspects of the complete abolition of the death penalty. According to her, reform measures concerning the death penalty had been initiated since 2018 through its abolition and the enforcement of a moratorium, during which appeals for pardon by inmates on death row were still permitted in accordance with existing legal provisions. 'After the Death Penalty and Life Imprisonment Review Act 2023 (Act 847) was gazetted, a total of 906 inmates were identified as eligible for sentence review and as of October 2024, the Federal Court had commuted the sentences of 863 prisoners. 'However, 49 inmates remain on death row and this number is expected to increase if a comprehensive policy solution is not formulated,' she said. Regarding the moratorium on executions, Azalina said it remained in force, in line with Malaysia's stance in supporting the UNGA resolution on the matter. - Bernama
The Star
22-07-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Govt to form task force to review death penalty policy, direction, says Azalina
KUALA LUMPUR: The government will establish a task force under the Criminal Law Reform Committee (CLRC) to conduct a comprehensive review of the country's death penalty policy and direction. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said the government made the decision to form the task force on July 9. "This review will be carried out comprehensively using an evidence-based approach, involving all stakeholders, including the families of death row inmates and victims' families. "The government is committed to examining the matter thoroughly before making any final decision," she said in a written reply uploaded on the Parliament website on Tuesday (July 22). She was responding to a question from Syerleena Abdul Rashid (PH-Bukit Bendera) on the government's direction towards the complete abolition of the death penalty and whether the existing moratorium on executions would be maintained in line with Malaysia's support for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolution. Azalina said the establishment of the task force followed suggestions made by stakeholders during several engagement sessions held in April this year, which called for a more in-depth study as there were still prisoners awaiting execution. She said the engagement session, which involved government agencies, legal bodies, non-governmental organisations and civil society organisations, was held to gather preliminary views on the policy direction, including implementation, legal and human rights aspects of the complete abolition of the death penalty. According to her, reform measures concerning the death penalty had been initiated since 2018 through its abolition and the enforcement of a moratorium, during which appeals for pardon by inmates on death row were still permitted in accordance with existing legal provisions. "After the Death Penalty and Life Imprisonment Review Act 2023 (Act 847) was gazetted, a total of 906 inmates were identified as eligible for sentence review and as of October 2024, the Federal Court had commuted the sentences of 863 prisoners. "However, 49 inmates remain on death row, and this number is expected to increase if a comprehensive policy solution is not formulated," she said. Regarding the moratorium on executions, Azalina said it remained in force, in line with Malaysia's stance in supporting the UNGA resolution on the matter. – Bernama
Barnama
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Barnama
Govt To Form Task Force To Review Death Penalty Policy, Direction
KUALA LUMPUR, July 22 (Bernama) -- The government will establish a task force under the Criminal Law Reform Committee (CLRC) to conduct a comprehensive review of the country's death penalty policy and direction. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said the decision to form the task force was made by the government on July 9. 'This review will be carried out comprehensively using an evidence-based approach, involving all stakeholders, including the families of death row inmates and victims' families. 'The government is committed to examining the matter thoroughly before making any final decision,' she said in a written reply uploaded on the Parliament website today. She was responding to a question from Syerleena Abdul Rashid (PH–Bukit Bendera) on the government's direction towards the complete abolition of the death penalty and whether the existing moratorium on executions would be maintained in line with Malaysia's support for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolution. Azalina said the establishment of the task force followed suggestions made by stakeholders during several engagement sessions held in April this year, which called for a more in-depth study as there were still prisoners awaiting execution. She said the engagement session, which involved government agencies, legal bodies, non-governmental organisations and civil society organisations, was held to gather preliminary views on the policy direction, including implementation, legal and human rights aspects of the complete abolition of the death penalty. According to her, reform measures concerning the death penalty had been initiated since 2018 through its abolition and the enforcement of a moratorium, during which appeals for pardon by inmates on death row were still permitted in accordance with existing legal provisions. 'After the Death Penalty and Life Imprisonment Review Act 2023 (Act 847) was gazetted, a total of 906 inmates were identified as eligible for sentence review and as of October 2024, the Federal Court had commuted the sentences of 863 prisoners.
The Sun
25-04-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Hearing of prosecution's review bid vacated
PUTRAJAYA: The Federal Court here today vacated the hearing of the prosecution's review application challenging the top court's earlier 2-1 majority ruling that it (the Federal Court) has the jurisdiction to review death sentences that had been imposed on four prisoners whose sentences have been commuted by the Pardons Boards. Lawyer Datuk representing two of the four prisoners, told the media that the hearing did not proceed today to allow the parties to explore the possibility of applying the Federal Court's ruling to 123 other prisoners who are in the same situation as the four. He said a case management has been fixed for June 3 for parties to update the court on any development. On Aug 27, last year, the Federal Court ruled in a split decision that it had the jurisdiction under the Revision of Sentence of Death and Imprisonment for Natural Life (Temporary Jurisdiction of The Federal Court) Act 2023 (Act 847), to review the death sentences that were imposed on the four for drug trafficking offences. The majority decision, made by Justices Tan Sri Harmindar Singh Dhaliwal and Datuk Hanipah Farikullah, held that the 30-year prison sentences imposed on the four prisoners should take effect from the date of their arrest, and not from the date their pardons were granted. Justice Datuk Nordin Hassan dissented. Following this, the prosecution filed a review application under Rule 137 of the Rules of the Federal Court 1995, contending that the judges who decided the majority ruling had acted beyond their jurisdiction. Meanwhile, lawyer Abdul Rashid Ismail, representing Zambian national Mailesi Phiri, told the media that the jail terms of 123 other prisoners were calculated from the date of their respective Pardons Board's clemency decision, rather than from the date of their arrest. 'This means that the time they spent in custody prior to the granting of the pardon has not been taken into account, resulting in longer prison terms beyond the 30-year jail term set under Section 39B (2) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952,' he explained. The Federal Court had in August last year allowed the four individuals – G. Jiva, 55; P. Balakrishnan, 48; Thai national Phrueksa Thaemchim, 41; and Phiri, 47 – to commence their 30-year jail terms from the date of their arrest. Sivananthan is representing Jiva and Balakrishnan, while lawyer K. Simon Murali is representing Phrueksa. Deputy Public Prosecutors Datin Asmah Musa, Tetralina Ahmed Fauzi, Ng Siew Wee, and Solehah Noratikah Ismail are appearing for the prosecution.
The Sun
25-04-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Federal Court delays hearing on death sentence review case
PUTRAJAYA: The Federal Court here today vacated the hearing of the prosecution's review application challenging the top court's earlier 2-1 majority ruling that it (the Federal Court) has the jurisdiction to review death sentences that had been imposed on four prisoners whose sentences have been commuted by the Pardons Boards. Lawyer Datuk representing two of the four prisoners, told the media that the hearing did not proceed today to allow the parties to explore the possibility of applying the Federal Court's ruling to 123 other prisoners who are in the same situation as the four. He said a case management has been fixed for June 3 for parties to update the court on any development. On Aug 27, last year, the Federal Court ruled in a split decision that it had the jurisdiction under the Revision of Sentence of Death and Imprisonment for Natural Life (Temporary Jurisdiction of The Federal Court) Act 2023 (Act 847), to review the death sentences that were imposed on the four for drug trafficking offences. The majority decision, made by Justices Tan Sri Harmindar Singh Dhaliwal and Datuk Hanipah Farikullah, held that the 30-year prison sentences imposed on the four prisoners should take effect from the date of their arrest, and not from the date their pardons were granted. Justice Datuk Nordin Hassan dissented. Following this, the prosecution filed a review application under Rule 137 of the Rules of the Federal Court 1995, contending that the judges who decided the majority ruling had acted beyond their jurisdiction. Meanwhile, lawyer Abdul Rashid Ismail, representing Zambian national Mailesi Phiri, told the media that the jail terms of 123 other prisoners were calculated from the date of their respective Pardons Board's clemency decision, rather than from the date of their arrest. 'This means that the time they spent in custody prior to the granting of the pardon has not been taken into account, resulting in longer prison terms beyond the 30-year jail term set under Section 39B (2) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952,' he explained. The Federal Court had in August last year allowed the four individuals – G. Jiva, 55; P. Balakrishnan, 48; Thai national Phrueksa Thaemchim, 41; and Phiri, 47 – to commence their 30-year jail terms from the date of their arrest. Sivananthan is representing Jiva and Balakrishnan, while lawyer K. Simon Murali is representing Phrueksa. Deputy Public Prosecutors Datin Asmah Musa, Tetralina Ahmed Fauzi, Ng Siew Wee, and Solehah Noratikah Ismail are appearing for the prosecution.
