The Sun
by Alyaa Alhadjri
by Alyaa Alhadjri
KUALA LUMPUR (April 8, 2011): There is not much time left for 27-year-old Cheong Chun Yin who was sentenced to death by Singaporean authorities in February last year for drug trafficking, claims his distraught family members.
Cheong has exhausted all his appeals and is now awaiting the final verdict, following submission of a "Petition for Clemency" to the Singapore President S.R Nathan on Jan 31, they told a press conference held at Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH) today.
The outcome of his application is expected to be known by the end of this month.
The family, together with Amnesty International executive director Nora Morat, highlighted Cheong's plight and enlisted support to save Cheong.
Cheong has exhausted all his appeals and is now awaiting the final verdict, following submission of a "Petition for Clemency" to the Singapore President S.R Nathan on Jan 31, they told a press conference held at Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH) today.
The outcome of his application is expected to be known by the end of this month.
The family, together with Amnesty International executive director Nora Morat, highlighted Cheong's plight and enlisted support to save Cheong.
Cheong, and another Malaysian, 54-year-old Pang Siew Fum were reportedly arrested by the city-state’s Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) officers on June 16, 2008 after they were found to be trafficking a total of 7.7kg of diamorphine.
Cheong had claimed that he was told to carry the bags containing the drugs and passed them to Pang, thinking they contained gold bars.
A strong advocate for abolishing the death sentence, Nora said: "As a developed nation, the death penalty have to stop. It has no place in any parts of the legal system."
She added that it also very important give "human faces" to the death penalty in order to highlight stories of people who might have been victims of unfortunate circumstances.
Based on the Amnesty International's Death Sentences and Executions report 2010, Nora said there were 114 death sentences handed down in Malaysia last year, mostly for drug related offences, but only one was carried out.
Another supporter of the call to abolish the death sentence was Kelana Jaya MP Loh Gwo Burne who said: "The death penalty have not proven to be an effective deterrent. Instead, more people are falling victims to professional drug barons who use them as mules."
Emotions were running high as Cheong's parents, Cheong Kah Pin and Lim Mooi Hoh were seen wiping away tears as they recounted their son's plight.
They had come from Johor Baru, accompanied by Cheong's two sisters, Jesleen Cheong and Joanne Cheong.
Also present was lawyer and KLSCAH civil rights committee vice-chairman Ngeow Chow Ying.
Cheong had claimed that he was told to carry the bags containing the drugs and passed them to Pang, thinking they contained gold bars.
A strong advocate for abolishing the death sentence, Nora said: "As a developed nation, the death penalty have to stop. It has no place in any parts of the legal system."
She added that it also very important give "human faces" to the death penalty in order to highlight stories of people who might have been victims of unfortunate circumstances.
Based on the Amnesty International's Death Sentences and Executions report 2010, Nora said there were 114 death sentences handed down in Malaysia last year, mostly for drug related offences, but only one was carried out.
Another supporter of the call to abolish the death sentence was Kelana Jaya MP Loh Gwo Burne who said: "The death penalty have not proven to be an effective deterrent. Instead, more people are falling victims to professional drug barons who use them as mules."
Emotions were running high as Cheong's parents, Cheong Kah Pin and Lim Mooi Hoh were seen wiping away tears as they recounted their son's plight.
They had come from Johor Baru, accompanied by Cheong's two sisters, Jesleen Cheong and Joanne Cheong.
Also present was lawyer and KLSCAH civil rights committee vice-chairman Ngeow Chow Ying.
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