Life imprisonment to end in planned prison reforms

Malaysia plans to do away with life imprisonment and drop capital punishment for six offences as the new government seeks to reform the Southeast Asian nation’s criminal justice system.

The move expands on the country’s earlier plan to end the mandatory death penalty, allowing judges the discretion to mete out alternative punishment. A bill on the proposed changes will be tabled in Parliament on March 27, Law Minister Azalina Othman Said told the Senate in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

Thirty-four offences, including murder, drug trafficking and terrorism, are currently punishable by death in the Southeast Asian nation. Eleven of them carry a mandatory death sentence.

If lawmakers approve the proposed legislation, the death penalty may only be an option in offences related to causing death, harming the royal rulers, and drug trafficking. And with life sentencing off the table, Malaysia is proposing imprisonment of between 30 to 40 years and whipping as an alternative to hanging for those offences. Due to its retrospective nature, the move would affect 476 prisoners who have yet to complete their appeals process in the courts, said Ms Azalina.

Meanwhile, under the new proposals, capital punishment will no longer be applicable to offences related to discharging or trafficking a firearm, manufacturing arms without a license, and kidnapping, according to a spokesperson from the ministry.

Malaysia will also seek parliament’s approval to allow the Federal Court to review past sentencing of capital punishment and life imprisonment, Ms Azalina told the Senate.

The changes would result in a criminal justice system that is “more holistic and inclusive for the common good while not denying the individual’s basic right to justice,” said Ms Azalina.