KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 28 — DAP's Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh has proposed for the judiciary to be given full discretion on capital punishments for drug convictions, further to the government's bid to amend the Dangerous Drugs Act.
Ramkarpal yesterday filed his proposed amendment to remove a clause that would allow judges to deliver alternative sentences of life imprisonment only if the prosecution issues a certificate declaring the the convict cooperated well with authorities.
He said the condition of the certificate effectively restricted the discretion of the courts and was against the spirit of the Bill to remove mandatory death sentences for drug trafficking.
Ramkarpal also proposed for the amendment to the DDA to apply retroactively, so that over 700 convicts who are on death row may have their sentences reviewed.
“I hope the government will consider this amendment because this is not a political issue, but a legal issue,” he said.
The amendment bill to the DDA is expected to be debated in Parliament tomorrow or Thursday, when the current Dewan Rakyat sitting concludes.
