KUALA LUMPUR, May 23 — With just hours to go, two human rights bodies are hoping the government will grant a reprieve for two Malaysians on death row at the Sungai Buloh Prison are to executed by 6am tomorrow.
The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) and Amnesty International Malaysia (AIM) pleaded with Putrajaya to suspend the execution order for Yong Kar Mun, 48, who was sentenced to death in 2009 for armed robbery.
AIM added that it was newly made aware that a second inmate, on death row the last 20 years for murder, will also be hanged at the same time tomorrow morning. It added that no further details about the man’s identity, age or history have been made available.
“The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) expresses deep regret over reports of the impending execution of Mr Yong Kar Mun who was sentenced to death under section 3 of the Firearms (Increased Penalties) Act 1971 which carries the mandatory death penalty, read together with section 37 of the Penal Code.
“While discussions on abolishing the mandatory death penalty are ongoing, Suhakam is of the view that a moratorium on the use of the death penalty be put in place, which is in line with the global trend that is changing towards a position in favour of abolition,” its chairman Tan Sri Razali Ismail said in a statement tonight.
In a separate statement, AIM executive director Shamini Darshni Kaliemuthu said the lack of transparency around executions in Malaysia is a violation of international law and standards.
She noted that Putrajaya had announced reforms to the death penalty in 2015, 2016 and 2017, but added that they have yet to be implemented.
“While reforms are being discussed, the Malaysian government must put a halt on executions immediately and confine the death penalty to the history books,” she said.
Shamini said Yong was told of his execution and was able to meet his family this morning, adding that they were told by prison officials to buy him a set of new clothes, and to make arrangements for a caretaker to collect his body immediately after the execution.
“It is an unimaginable thought having to discuss the funeral of someone who is still alive. The family members are pleading for clemency now, that Yong be spared the death penalty. We join them in their calls, and hope that the Malaysian authorities will stop any executions that are to be carried out,” she said.
In its Death Sentences and Executions Report 2016 released last April 11, AIM noted that Malaysia was 10th among among the world’s top executioners after carrying out nine death sentences last year.
In comparison, it noted that the Home Ministry disclosed that six people were hanged in 2014 and one in 2015.
The report also revealed that executions at the global level had decreased by 37 per cent from a high of 1,634 in 2015. On the other hand, new death sentences had increased in 2016 to 3,117 from 1,998 in 2015.
