COMMENT | Not long after he assumed office for the second time as prime minister, a remark from Dr Mahathir Mohamad about those involved in corruption went viral: “I would like to shoot them, like in China, but I can’t.”

I wondered then whether Mahathir said that in jest, but there are many who think that the prime minister was perhaps serious. The old man returned to active politics because he was very concerned and disturbed, angry even, with the rampant corruption in the country.

Remember, he even called former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak a thief many times, publicly. We all know that Mahathir is in a hurry to clean up the mess Najib left behind, and who can blame him if he says that he would shoot the corrupt?

As recently as Sept 28, MACC chief commissioner Mohd Shukri Abdull voiced his support for the prime minister’s suggestion that the death penalty be imposed on those found guilty of corruption.

Shukri was quoted as saying by the New Straits Times that “corruption is the root of all other crimes and those who commit it deserve such a punishment”.

He added that other crimes that are caused by corruption include the influx of undocumented migrants, gambling, prostitution as well as the smuggling of illicit goods.

“In China, those found guilty of corruption are shot to death,” the MACC chief (photo) repeated, perhaps as a reminder of the seriousness of the crime of graft.

In an article which I wrote on Oct 30, 2012, advocating to keep the death penalty, I also mentioned this:

“Many of you are keen to see the end of capital punishment. But I would advocate an additional crime for the death penalty.

“Political leaders who are excessively corrupt and have stolen from the state and people, causing misery and suffering to others in the process, should also be sent to the gallows.”

We can all agree that even the death penalty will not get rid of corruption. Neither would it put a stop to smuggling, murder, robbery with firearms and other heinous crimes.

But I maintain my stand from six years ago, with the Pakatan Harapan government now bent on abolishing the death penalty. I believe I am in the minority as a proponent of capital punishment and would be severely censured. So be it!

Pleading the sixth

This week, a friend reminded me that as Christians, we should be forgiving and it is up to God to decide when one should die, not us.

My response to that: “Tell me something new. I have heard that religious side of the argument countless times. I am aware of the sixth commandment – “Thou shalt not kill” – but what Moses did not say that fateful night on Mount Sinai was that if we live by the guiding principles of the other nine commandments, the sixth would have been irrelevant.” I’m not sure if my friend was able to catch my drift.

At times, I may be indifferent to God and religion being brought into an argument. Because if we were only to follow religious teachings, then the man-made Federal Constitution and Rukun Negara would be nothing but a big farce.

The main contention in the decision to abolish the death sentence is possibly because it is mandatory in the crimes prescribed under the provision.

So, why not let the death penalty remain, but without being mandatory? Then judges can decide on other punishments, such as life imprisonment, and not be bound by capital punishment. And by all means, review the sentences of those currently on death row.

Terror at the gates

The mandatory death penalty for drug trafficking was instituted in 1983 when the nation declared drugs as public enemy number one. The menace is still very serious today. But we have a bigger problem at hand – terrorism.

There are Malaysians who are involved in terrorist cells, both at home and abroad. Police statistics are worrying. The recent clampdown on a tahfiz school in Perlis, where teenagers were being indoctrinated on the godliness of religious wars, is real cause for concern.

There are many questions that must be asked. Why are these known, undesirable elements from abroad allowed to set up such so-called religious schools on Malaysian soil? Who funded them? Especially those who have been in the country for several years with their activities having gone undetected?

When Malaysian terrorists were killed in Indonesia and Philippines, Iraq and Syria, did any of us shed a tear for them? Would we cry for an Adolf Hitler, Joseph Goebbels, Idi Amin and Pol Pot if they were sentenced to death?

Back home, would we not want those responsible for the brutal murders of Altantuya Shaariibuu, Kevin Morais, Bill Kayong and others to be brought to justice? There must surely be a resounding “yes!” But at the same time, I wouldn’t want the killers to live off my tax dollars for the rest of their lives.

As I declare my firm stand again that capital punishment should stay, I will end here in the same way I signed off in my article six years ago:

“I’m not sorry for sounding cruel and being out of place by asking that the death penalty stays. It’s not that some people deserve to die, it’s just that some people do not deserve to live.”

FRANCIS PAUL SIAH heads the Movement for Change, Sarawak (MoCS) and can be reached at sirsiah@gmail.com.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.