Malaysia hailed over plans to abolish death penalty

In April previous year, human rights group Amnesty International ranked Malaysia 10th in the use of the death penalty among the 23 countries that carried out capital punishment in 2016.

Communications and Multimedia Minister Gobind Singh Deo said on Thursday that cabinet had chose to suspend use of the Sedition Act as they prepare a bill to repeal it altogether.

In Malaysia, the death penalty carried out by hanging is mandatory for crimes such as murder with intent to kill, for trafficking excessive amounts of drugs and possession of firearms.

Keong called for a halt on all executions until the decision is in effect, saying: "Since we are abolishing the sentence, all executions should not be carried out".

Liew Vui Keong, minister in the prime minister's office, said Thursday that the paperwork to abolish the death penalty in Malaysia is now in its final stages after the cabinet approved the measure on Wednesday.

"We are studying certain issues. we need to look into it and hear the views of all, but as it stands today, the decision is to abolish the death penalty", he told the media after the "Law Reform Talk" at Universiti Malaya here, today.

Mr Guterres, in a statement marking the 16th World Day Against the Death Penalty, said progress made toward eliminating the death penalty had been "marred by setbacks".

Liew said the amended law would be put before parliament next Monday.

European Union member nations have been at the forefront of campaigning to end capital punishment worldwide.

The government's announcement was "an encouraging sign", Amnesty International's Kumi Naidoo said in a statement.

Apart from the death penalty, the Pakatan Harapan government also plans to do away with other controversial and draconian laws such as the Sedition Act 1948.

A total of 1,267 prisoners are on death row, making up 2.7 percent of the 60,000-strong prison population.

There were 993 executions recorded in 2017 in 23 countries, but Amnesty's numbers do not include the "thousands" it says are believed to have been executed in China, which classifies this information as a state secret.

Surendran claimed there were now "hundreds of Malaysians" on death row in foreign countries, particularly for being drug mules.

The senator asserted that a fully-functioning justice system is what deters criminal acts, not the imposition of the death penalty.

Recommended:

• 

  11 October 2018

  Climate change economists win Nobel prize

  An example of this would be how a tax on carbon output would affect both the economy and the climate of any given nation. Nordhaus , 77, was specifically honoured for "integrating climate change into long-run macroeconomic analysis".

  Michael charges into Southeast after slamming north Florida

  Michael's minimum central pressure - a key measure of hurricane strength - was measured at 919 millibars when it made landfall. Characterized by strong winds and heavy rainfall, the hurricane of 1930 caused severe damage to the Dominican Republic.
  

  11 October 2018

  Kyrgios ousted in Shanghai Masters

  And in 2015, he was fined USD1,500 for using obscenities during a match and calling the event a "circus". Kyrgios has recently lost his status as Australia's No 1 to Alex de Minaur.
• 

  12 October 2018

  Here's What Kanye West Said to President Trump at the White House

  Rapper Kanye West had a few things to say when he stopped by the White House for a visit with President Donald Trump Thursday. West stopped his monologue for a moment, the president commented, "I'll tell you what, that was pretty impressive".

  Soyuz launch to ISS aborted after booster failure

  NASA said search and rescue crews were en route to the projected landing site, expecting to arrive in about 90 minutes. The Soyuz MS-10 spacecraft is seen moments after blastoff.

  US President Trump calls the US Fed 'crazy', stock declines a 'correction'

  By convention presidents rarely comment on central bank policy because the Fed is meant to be independent of politics. In September, the Federal Reserve raised short-term interest rates for the third time this year.
• 

  12 October 2018

  Astros, Red Sox announce starters for first 2 ALCS games

  If Price continues to look more comfortable in a relief role, leave him there, and let Eduardo Rodriguez start Game 4. Emma Baccellieri: Manager Alex Cora seems to have made up his mind here, saying Price will be ready to start Game 2 .
  

  11 October 2018

  Hurricane Michael evacuation: Florida declares emergency - Scott activates national guard

  Forecasters said parts of Florida's marshy, lightly populated Big Bend area could see up to 12 feet (3.7 meters) of storm surge. The governor activated 750 National Guardsmen for storm response on Monday, on top of the 500 activated the day before.
  

  11 October 2018

  International Monetary Fund raises Japan growth forecast, cuts global estimate due to trade tension

  The 2018 half year revenue performance report of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) shows that tax revenue improved by 42 per cent.
• 

  12 October 2018

  Facebook launches Portal and Portal

  The firm estimated that device makers shipped almost 12 million smart speakers in Q2 2018, about 8 million more than a year ago. But the tech is also used for a selection of stories, which a parent can read from afar while relevant visual effects appear.
  

  12 October 2018

  Storm Callum is on its way

  THE Met Office has issued yellow weather warnings for much of the United Kingdom this weekend as Storm Callum threatens to strike. The storm is expected to bring heavy rain between 6am on Friday and 6pm on Saturday, particularly over south-facing hills.
  

  12 October 2018

  United States pressures Saudi over missing journalist

  The President said blocking further arms sales to Saudi Arabia "would be hurting us". "We're demanding everything. But State Department deputy spokesman Robert Palladino told reporters they had no such tip.