Mandatory death penalty abolition takes effect today

The Abolition of Mandatory Death Penalty Act 2023 (Act 846) will come into operation today.

According to the Federal Government Gazette dated June 30 that the Attorney-General’s Chambers published, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Azalina Othman Said had fixed the date.

“In exercise of the powers conferred by subsection 1(2) of the Abolition of Mandatory Death Penalty Act 2023 [Act 846], the minister appoints July 4 as the date on which the Act comes into operation,” the gazette stated.

On April 3, the Dewan Rakyat passed the Act which aims to abolish the mandatory death penalty, to vary the sentence relating to imprisonment for natural life and whipping, and to provide for matters connected therewith.

Under the Act, the court now has the discretion to impose the death penalty or imprisonment for a period of not less than 30 years but not exceeding 40 years, and if not sentenced to death, shall also be punished with whipping of not less than 12 strokes.

- Bernama

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