975 prisoners on death row awaiting appeals

The New Straits Times

KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 975 prisoners sentenced to death for various offences are awaiting appeals at the Court of Appeal, Federal Court and the respective state Pardons Board.

In a reply to Liew Chin Tong (DAP-Kluang), Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi told the Dewan Rakyat that only two Malaysians and a foreigner have been sentenced to death in 2012 and 2013.

“In 2013, a total of 8,481 prisoners have been sentenced to caning, involving 2,483 Malaysians and 5,998 foreigners.

“It should be mentioned that caning has helped in reducing the number of repeat offenders, especially with drug offences. We also need to continue caning for foreigners due to their influx into Malaysia, as it is more effective than imposing fines on them,” Zahid said.

Zahid added that the Prisons Department was looking to upgrade its facilities, especially for the condemned prisoners.

On another question by Bung Mokhtar Radin (BN-Kinabatangan) about the waiting period for prisoners on death row, Zahid said: “The appeal cases of the 975 prisoners depend on the courts, where their cases are being heard.

“Based on state Pardons Boards reviewing such cases, we have seen that some cases have had their death sentences changed to life imprisonment or 20-year sentences. But this depends on the appeal made by the prisoner, prisoner’s rehabilitation report or the Attorney-General’s report.

“So, our legal system is good in that it ensures such factors can be used to review such cases. At the end of the day, the prison system is not merely to punish but to rehabilitate the convicts.”

Zahid said the rate of recidivism has declined from 32 per cent to 7.6 per cent.