De facto Law Minister Nazri Aziz has found an unlikely ally in a group of lawyer-activists, who have praised him for taking a "brave and progressive" s tand against the death penalty by calling for its abolishment.

Lawyers for Liberty spokesperson N Surendran said the group noted that Nazri, who is Minister in the Prime Minister Department, had been consistent on this issue.

Surendran, who is active in human rights law, said Nazri ( left ) had previously nazri abdul aziz supported the Bar Council's resolutions for the abolishment of the death penalty.

"We would like to reiterate the minister's points that no criminal justice system is perfect and that there is always the possibility that the wrong person was sent to his or her death," he said in a statement to Malaysiakini.

"The worldwide trend is to abolish the death penalty as it does not act as a deterrent;" he added.

Nazri's recent call came amid debate over executions - carried out in Malaysia by hanging - after Kuala Lumpur last month sought clemency from Singapore for a Malaysian prisoner on death row, Yong Vui Kong, who was convicted for drug trafficking when he was only 18.

Both Malaysia and Singapore have tough anti-drug laws and have rarely sought clemency for citizens convicted on drug charges in each other's country.

Yong's lawyer M Ravi, who had previously criticised Nazri for being "indifferent" to the plight of his client, had praised the latter's statement on the abolishment of death penalty as "highly commendable".

'Make abolish proposal to the cabinet'

Surendran ( right ) said Nazri's call was timely as too many people, especially NONE those who were young and from disadvantaged backgrounds, have been disproportionately convicted and executed.

"We further call upon the minister to do the right thing by proposing to the cabinet that the death penalty be abolished, despite the perceived public support for its continued use," he said.

"We are confident that his hurdle can be overcome if the public is given the right information regarding this cruel, inhumane and ultimate punishment."

In the spirit of Merdeka, Lawyers for Liberty said, the minister should do everything in his power to free Yong, who was only 18 years old when found guilty of drug trafficking in Singapore, from the gallows.

Yong has until January 2011 to appeal against a recent High Court decision that the power to grant clemency "rests solely with the cabinet" and that the Singapore president has no discretion in the matter.