COMMENT | Do a search here on the Malaysiakini website for articles that I have written about capital punishment and the death penalty, and chances are you will find a couple of pieces that I have written explaining my opinion on the matter. In fact, I have written about it on other platforms as well since it is something I feel quite strongly about.

So, for me, the recent decision in Parliament to abolish the mandatory death penalty has been a long time coming. I was a little bit caught by surprise that it happened so fast though. The multiple readings in the Dewan Rakyat that a bill had to go through in order to be passed happened in just one Parliamentary sitting.

The death penalty is something that has been debated and discussed in Malaysia for a very long time now. Those who are for it argue that it acts as a deterrent for serious crimes. It is more like an eye for an eye and whatnot so it would act like a lesson so others would not commit to doing bad things.

However, no data anywhere around the world supports the fact that the death penalty reduces crime...