The families of high-profile murder victims have come forward to object to the government's plan to abolish the death penalty.

The family members and relatives of cosmetic businessperson Sosilawati Lawiya, public prosecutor Kevin Morais and HSBC banker Wong Jing Kui held a press conference today to state their firm objection to the move, saying that abolishment would be unfair to them and the deceased.

They were represented by lawyer Christina Teng.

"The trial against the suspects linked to the murder of my mother took eight years. By then, my children had grown up and the eldest is going to enter Standard Two. This shows the lengthy duration of the trial.

"Last year, the court eventually ordered the death sentence on the perpetrators. I was elated with the court's decision but sadly this year, I heard that the government is planning to abolish the death sentence.

"I think this is unfair to us. I understand that the government is heading towards the humanitarian aspect but did the perpetrators think about humanity or the victim's family?" asked Erni Dekritawati Yuliana Buhari, daughter to the slain Sosilawati.

Erni (photo) couldn't contain her emotion and was sobbing during the press conference held at Desa Pandan, Kuala Lumpur.

Last year, the Federal Court upheld the death sentence on three men found guilty of Sosilawati's murder.

She and her three aides had met their untimely end in 2010 on a farm at the hands of a man who carried a "Datuk" title and his two accomplices. Their bodies were then incinerated.

The victims were reported missing after they went to Banting for a land deal.

Richard, younger brother to Kevin Morais, also strongly opposed the government's proposal.

"It was cruel what happened to my brother. The perpetrators kidnapped him, put him in an oil drum and cemented him in. Are you (the government) going to release these people? Is it fair?" he demanded.

Another murder victim's relative, Wong Hie Hong, also lamented the proposal citing that even with the death penalty, the fight for justice was always difficult.

Her brother Wong Jing Kui, a HSBC branch manager, was stabbed to death at his home in Sibu in 2012. His wife was found guilty and sentenced to hang last year.

Wrong message

"Nobody should profit from crime [...] but sadly, it happens here. We, the victims of crime suffer seriously. It took six years to get a successful conviction at the Sibu High Court for murder. My brother had over 20 multiple stab wounds.

"We need to keep death penalty as a deterrent to prevent crimes," Wong said.

Lawyer Teng reminded the government to focus on the protection of people first by improving enforcement rather than removing the death penalty.

"Removing death penalty has no benefit for the majority of the people and makes no sense. It is shortsighted, dangerous and will create a mess in our society," she said.

In Miri, Bernama reports that the family of murder victim Bill Kayong (above) has also expressed their unhappiness with the abolishment proposal.

Miri MP Michael Teo Yu Keng said the family had informed him that abolishment of the death penalty would send the wrong message that murder was not a serious offence in this country.

Teo said the death penalty should remain for those found guilty of premeditated murder as this would send a strong signal to those who intended to take the law into their hands.

Bill Kayong, the Miri PKR secretary, was shot dead at a traffic light at Kuala Baram in 2016.

The court sentenced the perpetrator to death in August this year.

In order to retain enforcement of the death penalty, lawyer Teng urged members of the public to sign this petition.