LETTER | We are concerned by the proposal to remove death penalty punishment in Malaysia. On behalf of the silent majority of Malaysians who rely on high standards of the law for protection, we appeal for the death penalty to be retained.

A strong government equals to good parents. When parents fail, the children will suffer. Please look at the bigger picture to first protect your family - our country. We need to set the highest standards in keeping law and order. Tough laws must be kept to keep the peace.

Strict punishments like the death penalty are a shield to prevent serious crimes including murder, terrorism and drug trafficking as they cause perpetual damage to our country. Crime rates are high but our enforcement is weak. We need this shield to protect us otherwise there will be a serious negative impact.

1. With less deterrence, there will be more crimes and social problems and we will live in fear.

2. More liabilities and wrong usage of public funds. Why waste taxpayers money to maintain the livelihood of hardened criminals on life imprisonment?

3. Risk of re-offending - how can you ensure life prisoners when they are released do not re-offend?

4. Risks of crimes being masterminded from prison – Nowadays, kingpins can easily operate from prisons. Remember, Pakatan Harapan grew more powerful even when its leader was in prison.

5. More injustice: In reality, it is not easy to secure successful arrest by police and for the prosecution to meet the burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt. Aggressive and experienced defence counsel are paid to get the culprits out, regardless of their guilt.

So a very low percentage are given the death penalty and many get away. When you lower the threshold for punishment even more by removing the death penalty, prosecutors will have no incentive to fight for mere extra years in prison (they will be quick to settle by plea bargaining at a lower charge for quick convictions).

Naturally, punishment will be reduced. If a convict is sentenced 20 years, he will be out sooner in only 5-10 years or less time after appeal/remission.

6. It cheapens our lives. You are going to lose your soldiers. Enforcement loses its purpose. With this new initiative you choose to ignore the majority's interests and instead protect the criminals - we will house and feed them with the taxpayers' money regardless of the seriousness of the crime.

Instead of sending the message that if you hurt our children and families, you will be executed.

7. Interference with judicial work. The central government should be independent and not try to decide on judicial work. The sentencing should be left to the discretion of the judges. Serious crimes like murder and terrorism warrant the death penalty. Removing it undermines our rule of law.

8. What is the real motive? This unrealistic proposal to abolish the death penalty makes no sense. Is it just to allow Altantuya Shaarribuu killer Sirul Azhar back? If it is, please use other ways like a royal pardon.

9. Ministers' and certain senior government leaders' interests? Is it to help a client or themselves? Some current ministers were lawyers who were defence counsel who must act in the best interest of the accused to get them off the hook, regardless of guilt.

Killers have failed to respect the lives of others, do they deserve the same respect from us?

10. Malaysia is a Muslim state that upholds the laws of Quran that endorses capital punishment for serious crimes. The new administration should respect the fundamentals of God's law and not remove it.

Removing the death penalty compromises the rule of law, devalues our lives and compromise the human rights of every citizen. With a cap on punishment, you are looking after the interests of the minority (meaning the criminals) and ignoring the majority of us.

Please look at the bigger picture, the best interests of the country and the common good of the people – our human rights matter more. We need strict laws to protect us. We need the highest standard for the rule of law in our country. Please protect us. Please keep the death penalty.