KUALA LUMPUR: Putrajaya will appeal to the Singapore government to spare a Malaysian found guilty of drug trafficking in the republic, which like Malaysia has a mandatory death sentence for the offence.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Liew Vui Keong said the Malaysian, Prabu Pathmanathan, was reported to be scheduled to be executed hanged on Friday.
“We just got word about the case... an officer has already been ordered to verify the information with the Singaporean government.
“As soon as the information is verified, we will immediately despatch a letter to the republic’s government to appeal for the death sentence to be commuted to a life sentence.
“We don’t have a lot of time left... if our appeal is rejected and the death sentence is carried out, it will be a sad day for Malaysia,” he told reporters after opening the 73rd anniversary celebrations for the United Nations here.
It was reported that Prabu is scheduled to be hung at Changi Prison on Friday. However, his family had only been informed on Oct 20, less than a week before his execution.