Paris court to rule on Sulu claim annulment on Dec 9
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Azalina Othman Said, in a statement, said the decision followed a hearing on July 7, during which the court concluded its hearing on the merits for the annulment of the final award in the case.
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Malay Mail
an hour ago
- Malay Mail
A more just Malaysia begins with ending the death penalty — Suresraj Therambarajoo
JULY 23 — Minister Azalina Othman Said's recent announcement on the formation of a task force to review Malaysia's death penalty policy signals a moment of real possibility — a chance for our nation to reflect, to listen, and to lead. For too long, the death penalty has been seen as a necessary instrument of justice — a symbol of deterrence, of moral reckoning. But we know now, through the wisdom of experience and the clarity of data, that capital punishment does not bring back the lives lost. It does not heal broken families. And it does not make us safer. What it does do is place a permanent, irrevocable judgment in the hands of a justice system that, however well-intentioned, is not immune to error. We've seen this around the world — and we are not immune. No system designed by humans is infallible. And when the stakes are life and death, even one mistake is one too many. The shift away from mandatory death sentencing in 2023 was a courageous first step. Now, with this task force, we have the opportunity to complete the journey. Abolishing the death penalty in its entirety would not be an act of weakness — it would be a show of strength. It would signal to the world that Malaysia believes in redemption. T hat we are committed to justice that is restorative, not merely retributive. There are alternatives that protect society while affirming human dignity: life imprisonment with the possibility of rehabilitation, sentencing reforms that prioritise proportionality and deterrence, and expanded support systems for victims and their families. These approaches allow for accountability without surrendering our moral compass. President Obama once said, 'The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.' But it does not bend on its own. It bends because people choose to pull it in the right direction. Minister Azalina has opened the door to that choice. Let us walk through it with courage and compassion. ** This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.
The Sun
3 hours ago
- 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 Sun
3 hours ago
- The Sun
MPs push for independent whistleblower commission in Malaysia
KUALA LUMPUR: The government should consider establishing an independent commission to protect whistleblowers and provide a secure and lawful reporting avenue, particularly when the agency tasked with handling such reports is itself involved in misconduct. Bentong MP Young Syefura Othman said that while she welcomed the amendments to the Whistleblower Protection Act, including a new provision allowing agencies to maintain protection in the public interest, she believed they remained insufficient without monitoring from an independent body. 'I commend amendment 11(1A), which allows agencies to exercise discretion in maintaining protection if the disclosure provides significant benefits to the public interest. This is in line with internationally practised principles of good faith and public interest. 'However, in my view, this discretion is not enough if it lies solely with the enforcement agencies. Any case must be referred to an independent body, as mentioned earlier,' she said during the debate on the bill in the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday (July 22). Earlier, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said tabled the Whistleblower Protection (Amendment) Bill 2025 for its second reading at the sitting. The bill, among others, seeks to establish a Whistleblower Protection Committee to obtain statistics and data related to disclosures and complaints received by enforcement agencies under the act. Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal (PN–Machang) said he was of the view that the establishment of a Whistleblower Protection Committee, with its members appointed by ministers, did not guarantee independence or effectiveness as it had no review or enforcement powers. 'Many whistleblowers still face pressure and threats. Malaysia needs a comprehensive protection mechanism not only for the public sector or corruption cases, but also in cases involving sexual exploitation, abuse of power by enforcement authorities and corporate elites. 'Protection should also extend to disclosures made to the media, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) or MPs if the whistleblowers do not trust the official agency. We must also ensure that whistleblowers in cases involving sexual harassment, political or corporate abuse are protected without prejudice,' he said. He also cited the approach taken by several foreign countries, including the United Kingdom and the United States, which allow whistleblowers to report to the media or Congress without having to go through internal departmental channels, provided the disclosures are made in good faith. Meanwhile, Wong Chen (PH–Subang) proposed that the minister appoint four committee members, comprising academics, representatives from the Malaysian Bar Council, and an NGO representative. 'In other countries such as the United Kingdom, France and Sweden, whistleblowers are given the option to report to the media if no action is taken by the authorities. We must amend our laws to protect those who have the courage to come forward and provide information to the media,' he said. - Bernama
