KUALA LUMPUR: In the latest episode of Beyond the Headlines, two significant topics take centrestage: the High Court's recent rulings on the death penalty following the Mandatory Death Penalty Abolition Act 2023, and the insufficient state funding for international events like Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL).
The Federal Court's careful deliberation was highlighted in the case of former police commando Azilah Hadri, convicted for the 2006 murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu.
His death sentence was commuted to 40 years in prison and 12 strokes of the cane after serving nine years on death row. This decision reflects the court's balanced approach to the new legal reforms and underscores the importance of judicial discretion in life-or-death cases.
In contrast, the court upheld the death sentences for those convicted in the murder of Datuk Sosilawati Lawiya, indicating that the death penalty remains applicable for particularly egregious crimes.
Criminal lawyer Sreekant Pillai discussed the broader implications, shedding light on the role of judiciary to weigh challenging decisions between life imprisonment and capital punishment.
The episode also addressed LTdL, where Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh expressed concern over the lack of financial support from state governments, despite the significant economic potential these events offer.
Sports analyst Datuk Dr Pekan Ramli provided insights into the challenges of securing state backing, citing budget constraints and varying state priorities.
He stressed the necessity of enhanced cooperation between state governments and the private sector to ensure the sustainability and success of international events.
Additionally, the episode featured the Warna International Group Art exhibition, launched by the Raja Permaisuri of Perak, Tuanku Zara Salim.
Themed "Exploring Spaces Beyond Boundaries", the exhibition showcased the life stories of both international and local female artists through their artwork.
Dignitaries in attendance included ambassadors from Germany, Italy, Austria, Brazil, and the Singaporean High Commissioner.
Catch the full discussion in the latest episode of Beyond the Headlines on NST Online's YouTube channel.
This episode was recorded on Oct 10.