KUALA LUMPUR: A total 861 applications for review on death sentence and another 117 on life prison terms had been submitted to the Chief Registrar's Office of the Federal Court as of Nov 9.Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said (law and institutional reform) in a statement said this was following the abolishment of mandatory death penalty, which took effect on July 4, and the Revision of Sentence of Death and Imprisonment for Natural Life (Temporary Jurisdiction of the Federal Court) Act 2023 (Act 847) enforced from Sept 12.
"The implementation of the review mechanism has been agreed by the cabinet following the engagement sessions held by the department's legal affairs division, together with the Chief Registrar's Office of the Federal Court, Prisons Department, Legal Aid Foundation, Bar Council, Sabah Law Society (SLS) and Advocates Association of Sarawak (AAS)."A total 1,020 inmates on death row and life-term imprisonment are eligible to file for a review for their sentences," she said in a statement today.
According to Act 847, all applicants must submit their appeal to the court within 90 days of the date of its enforcement, she said.Azalina said the court proceedings take into consideration, among others, the age of the inmates, their health conditions and length of their prison terms, as well as other pressing concerns.
She said seven applications for review filed by death row prisoners convicted for drug trafficking under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 were heard at the Federal Court today.It would also hear four other applications for review on the death sentence.
"Today marks a historical milestone for our country as the applications for review of the death sentence and natural life prison-terms were heard at the Federal Court in Putrajaya. "This has proven that the restorative justice principle in Malaysia's criminal justice system is always protected."
It has also reflected the government's commitment in promoting and safeguarding human rights.At the same time, the unity government emphasised that capital punishment is still in effect in the country's criminal justice administration system, she said.
"However, it is no longer mandatory and the revised laws had given the option to judges to use their own discretion in meting out sentences accordingly."This is in line with the unity government's commitment to provide death row prisoners a second chance to return to the society and family, as well as resuming their lives as normal citizens."