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Many people continue to condemn Yong Vui Kong, saying that "supporting him means supporting recreational drug use." People who think this are missing the point.

Support for Vui Kong does not mean support for recreational drug use. The key issue here is that Vui Kong is being condemned to die for making a teenage mistake.

Vui Kong was only 19 at the time of his arrest - when he wasn't even old enough yet to vote in Malaysia or Singapore.

The main point people should be considering is: Is it right to punish youths with death for making a mistake? Who hasn't made a stupid mistake or decision as a teenager?

Consider this: It's a scientific fact that the teenage brain is still developing, especially the prefrontal cortex area which is responsible for impulse control and executive/logical decisions.

Until this area of the brain is properly developed in adulthood, the amygdala (which is responsible for emotions) has a stronger influence and teenagers tend to make impulsive decisions based on emotion and basic drives.

Knowing this, how can we in good conscience condemn Vui Kong to death for making a teenage mistake?

Furthermore, while many people continue to condemn Vui Kong for being a drug mule, addictive substances like cigarettes and alcohol are right now being freely sold at convenience stores everywhere.

Recent scientific studies show that alcohol's effects are much more harmful than recreational drugs like heroin and cocaine. Cigarette use is known to lead to lung and other forms of cancer. So why don't the authorities ban the sale of alcohol and cigarettes?

Also, addictive activities like prostitution and casino gambling are easily accessible in Singapore and Malaysia (prostitution is legal in Singapore).

Prostitution degrades and exploits both men and women while posing a health risk to the community in the form of sexually transmitted diseases.

Gambling addiction leads to broken homes, massive debts, and suicides. So why don't the authorities stamp out prostitution and close down the casinos?

Is is not hypocritical of us to condemn Vui Kong with death for being a drug mule, when "legally" addictive and harmful substances/activities are so easily available all around us?

Yes, Vui Kong committed a crime, so punish him - but not with death. Give him a second chance to make amends and contribute something useful to society.

Vui Kong has shown clear proof of reforming and educating himself while in prison - this should be taken into account. 

If he was not sincerely remorseful and wanted to make amends, he wouldn't have made an effort to improve himself while in prison.

Given all Vui Kong has been through, it's likely that he will make a valuable contribution, if given a second chance.

Mahatma Gandhi once said: "A nation's greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members." We should ask ourselves if the society we live in meets this standard of greatness.

As it is, punishing Vui Kong's mistake with death will not send the right message to youths, does nothing to solve the supply and demand of recreational drugs, and does not in any way help move our society forward.

Rules and laws are there for a reason. In general, they work well enough to keep public law and order - but they are not perfect. When the laws stop making sense - like punishing teenage mistakes with death - leaders of society have to intervene with common sense and compassion to effectively resolve the issue.

So give Vui Kong and all other teenagers like him a second chance. Tell our youth it's OK to make mistakes, as long as you learn from them and don't repeat them.

Help them learn from their mistakes and move forward, so they can one day become valuable members of society.


Yong Vui Kong, a Malaysian from the state of Sabah, was sentenced to death on 4th December 2009 for trafficking drugs in Singapore.

He was arrested in June 2007 and charged with trafficking 42.27 grams of heroin, when he was 19 years of age.

On 4th April 2011, the Singapore Court of Appeal, Singapore's highest court, dismissed Yong Vui Kong's appeal. He is now at imminent risk of execution.

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